Overproduction of corticotropin-releasing hormone blocks germinal center formation: role of corticosterone and impaired follicular dendritic cell networks.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a central mediator in the response to stress, coordinating behavioral, autonomic and neuroendocrine activation. CRH overproduction is implicated in several affective disorders, including major depression, panic-anxiety disorder and anorexia--diseases also associated with altered immune function. We investigated the link between CRH overdrive and immune function using CRH transgenic mice. Following immunization, CRH transgenic mice fail to form germinal centers; chronic glucocorticoid administration recapitulates this effect in wild-type mice. Regulation of germinal centers by glucocorticoids appears to be mediated, in part, through effects on follicular dendritic cells (FDC), providing a novel mechanism by which CRH dysregulation may significantly impair humoral immune responses.
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Mail Code L220, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97201, USA.
Susan E
SE
Murray
Holly L
HL
Rosenzweig
Martha
M
Johnson
Mark O
MO
Huising
Kristine
K
Sawicki
Mary P
MP
Stenzel-Poore
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone