title: Neurotrophins and neurotransmitters in human palatine tonsils: an immunohistochemical and RT-PCR analysis.
abstract: Lymphoid organs are supplied by many nerve endings associated with different kinds of cells and macrophages. The role of these neuromediators on the release of locally active molecules is still unknown. Here we focused our attention on the expression of some neurotrophins (NTs), their high- and low-affinity receptors and several neurotransmitters in human palatine tonsils. Light and electron microscopy immunohistochemistry showed that human tonsillar samples were positive for all analyzed neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF and NT-3) and their high-affinity receptors (TrkA, TrkB and TrkC, respectively). All of these molecules were strongly expressed in macrophages whereas, in some patients, a weaker specific staining of lymphocytes and blood vessels was also found. The low-affinity receptor for NGF (p75) was always absent in the analysed samples. RT-PCR confirmed the occurrence of specific transcripts for NTs and their high-affinity receptors as well as the absence of mRNA for p75 protein. Also, specific immunoreactivity for neurotransmitters SP, VIP, CGRP, ChAT and nNOS was mainly expressed by macrophagic cells. These results suggest the presence of an extensive network of innervation in the human palatine tonsils which may play a role in the regulation of some immune functions as well as in the modulation of a possible functional scenario of interactions among different immune cellular subtypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Morphological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy. elena.bronzetti@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bronzetti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artico
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pompili
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Felici
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stringaro
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magliulo
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colone
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arancia
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fumagalli
mesh_terms: D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000032:analysis; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000032:analysis; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000032:analysis; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000032:analysis; D020812:Receptor, trkC / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA; D020813:Receptor, trkB; D020812:Receptor, trkC