The induction of splenic suppressor T cells through an immune-privileged site requires an intact sympathetic nervous system.
Antigen injection into the eye's anterior chamber (AC) induces the antigen-specific suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) that is mediated by NKT cells and splenic CD8+ suppressor T cells. Because the AC, uveal tissues, the thymus and spleen required to induce anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) have dense sympathetic innervations, we examined the effects of chemical sympathectomy of mice by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on the induction of the suppression of contact sensitivity to trinitrophenol (TNP) induced by the injection of TNP-bovine serum albumin (BSA) into the anterior chamber. DTH measured as contact sensitivity to picrylchloride was not induced in mice that received 6-OHDA before immunization with TNP-BSA. Although spleen cells from 6-OHDA-treated TNP-BSA-immunized mice produced IFN-gamma when stimulated by TNP-BSA, the number of DTH-initiating hepatic NKT cells was reduced markedly in 6-OHDA-treated mice. Chemically denervated mice did not produce splenic suppressor T cells or thymic NKT cells that activate splenic suppressor T cells. We suggest that an intact sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is required to maintain cellular immunoregulation.
Li
Xingya
X
Department of Pathology, Connecticut Lions Vision Immunology Center. University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-3105, USA.
Taylor
Shiv
S
Zegarelli
Benjamin
B
Shen
Shujing
S
O'Rourke
James
J
Cone
Robert E
RE
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity; D010851:Picrates / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D012212:Rheology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000633:toxicity; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / Q000276:immunology
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010851:Picrates; D013565:Sympatholytics; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016627:Oxidopamine; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; C005858:picric acid; D003891:Desipramine