Modulation of early immune responses and suppression of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infections by surgical denervation of the spleen.
OBJECTIVE
To examine critical interactions between the nervous system and the immune system during experimental African trypanosomiasis.


RESULTS
Inoculation of Trypanosoma brucei brucei resulted in early interferon (IFN)-gamma production, elevated corticosterone and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) levels and increased splenocyte proliferation, as measured by enzyme-linked immunospot assay, radioimmunoassay and thymidine incorporation assay, respectively. Splenic denervation suppressed IFN-gamma, corticosterone and PGE(2) production, enhanced splenocyte proliferation, and significantly reduced parasitemia and prolonged rat survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show substantial effects of the nervous system on early immune responses that may influence the outcome of this disease. These effects were not dependent on cytokine inhibitory mediators such as prostaglandins or stress hormones. More investigations are required to understand the evident neural control over the immune system during infectious challenges, which may assist in novel therapeutic approaches.
Liu
Y
Y
Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Mustafa
M
M
Li
H L
HL
Nuortio
L
L
Mustafa
A
A
Bakhiet
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002447:Celiac Plexus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003714:Denervation; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation / Q000469:parasitology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis
D007371:Interferon-gamma; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D015232:Dinoprostone; D003345:Corticosterone