Role of Adrenoreceptor Signaling on Lymphocyte Migration — ASN Events

Role of Adrenoreceptor Signaling on Lymphocyte Migration (#25)

Sapna Devi 1 2 , Keit Loi 1 , William R Heath 1 2 , Erica Sloan 3 , Scott N Mueller 1 2
  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  2. ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  3. Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

Patrolling lymphocytes are crucial for immunosurveillance and for eliciting efficient immune responses towards pathogens. T cells express receptors that enable them to respond to neurotransmitters including those of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) including noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline. These neurotransmitters bind to α and β adrenoreceptors (AR) inducing downstream signaling and modulating cell functions. Signaling through βAR on T cells may alter immune functions, although whether this is stimulatory or inhibitory during the context of immune responses to virus infection remains unclear. We have examined T cell responses in vivo using 2-photon microscopy to follow T cell motility and behavior and find that SNS neurotransmitters markedly and acutely alter lymphocyte dynamics. Signaling via α and β AR was required and could be blocked using selective antagonists, suggesting that adrenoceptor signaling can affect T cell functions and immunity. Hence, pharmaceutical drugs currently available targeting the α and β ARs could potentially be used to modulate immune responses to infections.

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