The lymphocytic cholinergic system and its biological function.
Lymphocytes are now known to possess the essential components for a non-neuronal cholinergic system. These include acetylcholine (ACh); choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), its synthesizing enzyme; and both muscarinic and nicotinic ACh receptors (mAChRs and nAChRs, respectively). Stimulating lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin, a T-cell activator; Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, a B-cell activator; or cell surface molecules enhances the synthesis and release of ACh and up-regulates expression of ChAT and M(5) mAChR mRNAs. Activation of mAChRs and nAChRs on lymphocytes elicits increases in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and stimulates c-fos gene expression and nitric oxide synthesis. On the other hand, long-term exposure to nicotine down-regulates expression of nAChR mRNA. Abnormalities in the lymphocytic cholinergic system have been detected in spontaneously hypertensive rats and MRL-lpr mice, two animal models of immune disorders. Taken together, these data present a compelling picture in which immune function is, at least in part, under the control of an independent non-neuronal lymphocytic cholinergic system.
Kawashima
Koichiro
K
Department of Pharmacology, Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan. kawashima-ki@kyoritsu-ph.ac.jp
Fujii
Takeshi
T
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology
D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; C065637:choline transporter; D000109:Acetylcholine