Role of muscarinic receptors in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses.
Leukocytes contain both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, and while activation of nicotinic receptors suppresses immune/inflammatory responses, the role of muscarinic receptors in immunity is unclear. We examined the effects of a muscarinic receptor antagonist (atropine) and agonist (oxotremorine), administered chronically through miniosmotic pumps, on immune/inflammatory responses in the rat. Results show that while oxotremorine stimulated, atropine inhibited the antibody and T-cell proliferative responses. Moreover, atropine also suppressed the turpentine-induced leukocytic infiltration and tissue injury, and inhibited chemotaxis of leukocytes toward neutrophil and monocyte/lymphocyte chemoattractants. Thus, activation of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors has opposite effects on the immune/inflammatory responses.
Razani-Boroujerdi
Seddigheh
S
Immunology Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 2425 Ridgecrest Dr. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, United States.
Behl
Muskaan
M
Hahn
Fletcher F
FF
Pena-Philippides
Juan Carlos
JC
Hutt
Julie
J
Sopori
Mohan L
ML
D000038:Abscess / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010095:Oxotremorine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000502:physiology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014425:Turpentine / Q000633:toxicity
C491766:Ccl2 protein, rat; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D010095:Oxotremorine; D001285:Atropine; D014425:Turpentine