title: A novel nervous system-induced factor inducing immune responses in the spleen.
abstract: This study relates to a novel mediator signaling between the nervous system and the spleen following an immune challenge. Using enzyme-linked immunospot and cell proliferation assays, we found that supernatants of cultured splenocytes prepared from subcutaneously trypanosome-inoculated rats and mice spleens obtained immediately after inoculation and added to naive cells significantly stimulate interferon-gamma production and cell proliferation compared to phosphate-buffered saline-inoculated animals. This action was abrogated by surgical denervation of the spleen. Using the fluorescent differential display technology, the gene involved in this process was identified and further cloned and its sequence was mapped to chromosome 14 (GenBank accession number: EU552928). Protein expression revealed approximately 15 kDa molecule with biological activities similar to the cultured supernatants of splenocytes obtained directly from parasite-inoculated animals. Antibodies raised against the protein blocked the activities of both the protein and the supernatant and also recognized a band in the active supernatant with the same molecular mass as the protein. Furthermore, the protein was able to reactivate experimentally immunosuppressed cells by regaining their ability to proliferate, suggesting that such a nervous system-induced immune system-released activating agent (ISRAA) may have a potential therapeutic benefit in immunocompromised situations and in further understanding the mechanism for innate immunity commencement and action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, HH Princess Al-Jawhara Center for Genetics and Inherited Diseases - College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, AGU, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. moiz@agu.edu.bh
authors.forename: Moiz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakhiet
authors.forename: Safa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taha
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009420:Nervous System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000276:immunology*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; C540855:immune system released activating agent, mouse; D007371:Interferon-gamma