title: Catecholamine production and tyrosine hydroxylase expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from multiple sclerosis patients: effect of cell stimulation and possible relevance for activation-induced apoptosis.
abstract: Sympathoadrenergic mechanisms may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS). We examined catecholamine (CA) levels and production and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from MS patients, and the correlation between CA production and apoptosis in PBMCs. PBMCs from MS patients had increased norepinephrine (NE) levels. However, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated PBMCs from MS patients with active disease synthesized less dopamine (DA) than cells from both healthy controls and patients with inactive disease. PBMCs from patients with inactive disease showed lower expression of TH. Pharmacological inhibition of TH in cultured PBMCs stimulated with PHA reduced the percentage of apoptotic cells. Since a failure of activation-induced apoptosis in immune cells may be involved in MS, it is suggested that altered CA production by PBMCs may be implicated in such dysregulation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Clinical and Applied Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. marco.cosentino@uninsubria.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosentino
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bombelli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rasini
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecchini
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
authors.forename: Gianmario
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frigo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000276:immunology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000276:immunology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase