title: Immunochemical and immunocytochemical characterization of cholinergic markers in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
abstract: Cholinergic markers and the expression of M(2)-M(5) muscarinic cholinergic receptor subtypes were investigated in human peripheral blood lymphocytes by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. The totality of peripheral blood lymphocytes express acetylcholine (ACh) immunoreactivity, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), vesicular ACh transporter (VAChT) and M(2)-M(5) muscarinic cholinergic receptor protein immunoreactivity. Western blot analysis performed independently on T and B lymphocytes using anti-ChAT and anti-AChE antibodies revealed labelling of single bands of approximately 68-70 and 70 kDa, respectively, whereas VAChT was bound to two bands of approximately 80 and 45 kDa. The pattern of immunoblotting was similar in membranes of lymphocytes and striatum, used as a reference brain tissue. Western blot analysis using anti M(2)-M(5) receptor antibodies revealed labelling of single bands of approximately 55, 85-90, 50 and 81 kDa, respectively. Confocal laser immunofluorescence showed the localization of ACh and VAChT immunoreactivity in punctiform areas likely corresponding to cytoplasmic vesicles. ChAT and AChE were diffused to the cytoplasm and plasma membrane. Muscarinic receptor immunoreactivity was located in lymphocyte plasma membrane. Although the role of lymphocyte cholinergic system is still unclear, the demonstration of cholinergic markers in T and B human blood lymphocytes supports the view that a cholinergic systems may contribute to the regulation of immune function. The characterization of these cholinergic markers may also contribute to define if their evaluation can be used for assessing the status of brain cholinergic system.
authors.affiliation: Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Medicina Sperimentale, Università di Camerino, Via Scalzino 3, 62032 Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Seyed K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tayebati
authors.forename: Dahuk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: El-Assouad
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amenta
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000097:blood; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000097:blood*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; C493459:SLC18A3 protein, human; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000109:Acetylcholine