Blunted stress responses in delayed type hypersensitivity in mice lacking the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase.
Nitric oxide (NO) is implicated in inflammation and hypothalamic-pituitary responses to immune stimuli; however, the specific role of NO from neurons during stress-induced immune responses remains unspecified. We measured antigen-specific delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) responses in the skin of wild-type (WT) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase knockout (nNOS(-/-)) mice at baseline and after 2 h of restraint. Baseline corticosterone concentrations were higher in nNOS(-/-) than WT mice. However, stress-induced increases in corticosterone were dampened in nNOS(-/-) mice, and restraint suppressed DTH only in WT animals. Furthermore, WT mice lost more body mass after stress, and exhibited more anxiety-like behavior in the open field, than nNOS(-/-) mice. Neuronal NO appears to be involved in the neuroendocrine-immune response to stress, perhaps via glucocorticoid regulation.
Bilbo
Staci D
SD
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA. bilbo.l@osu.edu
Hotchkiss
Andrew K
AK
Chiavegatto
Silvana
S
Nelson
Randy J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D007527:Isoenzymes; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496321:Nos1 protein, mouse; D003345:Corticosterone