title: Norepinephrine potentiates proinflammatory responses of human vaginal epithelial cells.
abstract: The vaginal epithelium provides a barrier to pathogens and recruits immune defenses through the secretion of cytokines and chemokines. Several studies have shown that mucosal sites are innervated by norepinephrine-containing nerve fibers. Here we report that norepinephrine potentiates the proinflammatory response of human vaginal epithelial cells to products produced by Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen that causes menstrual toxic shock syndrome. The cells exhibit immunoreactivity for catecholamine synthesis enzymes and the norepinephrine transporter. Moreover, the cells secrete norepinephrine and dopamine at low concentrations. These results indicate that norepinephrine may serve as an autocrine modulator of proinflammatory responses in the vaginal epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 75 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine, 1988 Fitch Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55108, United States.
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Brosnahan
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vulchanova
authors.forename: Samantha R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Witta
authors.forename: Yuying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Bryan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D018089:Superantigens; C072440:vasoactive intestinal peptide (1-11); D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D011433:Propranolol; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D010646:Phentolamine