Stress induces increases in IL-6 production by leucocytes of patients with the chronic inflammatory disease juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: a putative role for alpha(1)-adrenergic receptors.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints. In the present study we demonstrate that exposure of JRA patients to a noradrenergic stressor (cold pressor test) results in enhanced LPS-induced IL-6 production by peripheral blood cells of these patients. Healthy, age-matched controls had the same rise in norepinephrine, but do not respond with changes in IL-6 production after exposure to the cold pressor test. Moreover, PBMC of patients with JRA express mRNA encoding alpha(1)-adrenergic receptors (AR), predominantly of the alpha(1d)-AR subtype. In contrast, we could not detect mRNA encoding for alpha(1)-AR in PBMC of healthy controls. The results of this study suggest that expression of alpha(1)-AR mRNA in PBMC during chronic inflammation is associated with altered responses of the immune system to stress.
Roupe van der Voort
C
C
Laboratory of Pediatric Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital of the University Medical Center Utrecht, Room KC03.068.0, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Heijnen
C J
CJ
Wulffraat
N
N
Kuis
W
W
Kavelaars
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003080:Cold Temperature; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D009638:Norepinephrine