title: Lymphocyte-derived catecholamines induce a shift of Th1/Th2 balance toward Th2 polarization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our previous work has shown that lymphocytes synthesize and secrete catecholamines (CAs), which regulate lymphocyte proliferation and apoptosis. In the present study, we explored the effect of the lymphocyte-derived CAs on differentiation and function of T helper (Th) cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphocytes were separated from the mesenteric lymph nodes of mice and stimulated by concanavalin A (Con A). These cells were treated with alpha-methyl-p- tyrosine (α-MT), an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) that is a rate-limiting enzyme for synthesis of CAs, and pargyline, an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase that degrades CAs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of Con A-stimulated lymphocytes with α-MT (10(-6) M) reduced CAs both in the cultured lymphocytes and in the culture supernatants. Simultaneously, α-MT upregulated expression of mRNAs and proteins of T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) but downregulated expression of mRNAs and proteins of GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in Con A-activated lymphocytes. In contrast, pargyline (10(-6) M) increased intracellular and supernatant CA contents in Con A-activated lymphocytes. Meanwhile, the treatment with pargyline downregulated expression of T-bet and IFN-γ but upregulated expression of GATA-3 and IL-4 in these lymphocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAs synthesized and secreted by lymphocytes regulate differentiation and function of Th cells, with an effect facilitating the shift of Th1/Th2 balance toward Th2 polarization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, PR China.
authors.forename: Hui-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jian-Lei
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xin-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yi-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines