title: Regulation of differentiation and function of helper T cells by lymphocyte-derived catecholamines via α₁- and β₂-adrenoceptors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, we have reported that lymphocyte-derived endogenous catecholamines (CAs) facilitate a shift in the T helper (Th)1/Th2 balance towards Th2. The purpose of this study was to explore the involvement of adrenoreceptors (ARs) in Th differentiation and function modulation by lymphocyte-derived CAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphocytes were separated from the mesenteric lymph nodes of mice, stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) and treated with pargyline, an inhibitor of CA degradation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pargyline downregulated the expression of Th1-relative factors, T-bet, interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2, but upregulated the expression of Th2-relative factors, GATA-3, IL-4 and IL-10. Pargyline reduced the percentage of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ cells and the CD4+IFN-γ+/CD4+IL-4+ cell ratio, although it did not alter the proportion of IL-4-producing CD4+ cells. In addition, the percentage of CD4+CD26+ T cells and the CD4+CD26+/CD4+CD30+ cell ratio were also reduced in the pargyline-treated group. Furthermore, Con A-activated T cells treated with pargyline produced a lower level of IFN-γ and a higher level of IL-4 than the control group. All these effects were blocked by the α1-AR antagonist corynanthine or the β2-AR antagonist ICI 118551, but not by the α2-AR antagonist yohimbine or β1-AR antagonist atenolol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results imply that lymphocyte-derived CAs promote polarization of differentiation and function towards Th2 cells and that this effect is mediated by α1-AR and β2-AR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiao-Xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Xiao-Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yi-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010293:Pargyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D002395:Catecholamines; D016207:Cytokines; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494748:Gata3 protein, mouse; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D010293:Pargyline