title: The neuropeptides α-MSH and NPY modulate phagocytosis and phagolysosome activation in RAW 264.7 cells.
abstract: Within the immunosuppressive ocular microenvironment, there are constitutively present the immunomodulating neuropeptides alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) that promote suppressor functionality in macrophages. In this study, we examined the possibility that α-MSH and NPY modulate phagocytic activity in macrophages. The macrophages treated with α-MSH and NPY were significantly suppressed in their capacity to phagocytize unopsonized Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bioparticles, but not antibody-opsonized bioparticles. The neuropeptides significantly suppressed phagolysosome activation, and the FcR-associated generation of reactive oxidative species as well. This suppression corresponds to neuropeptide modulation of macrophage functionality within the ocular microenvironment to suppress the activation of immunogenic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Toan A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007948:Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000521:alpha-MSH