Repeated Stress Down-Regulates ¦Â₂- and ¦Á_2C-Adrenergic Receptors and Up-Regulates Gene Expression of IL-6 in the Rat Spleen

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• 作者：Marcela Laukova ; Peter Vargovic ; Olga Krizanova and Richard Kvetnansky
• 关键词：Stress ; Immobilization ; Spleen ; Adrenoceptors ; Gene expression ; Cytokines
• 刊名：Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
• 出版年：2010
• 出版时间：October 2010
• 年：2010
• 卷：30
• 期：7
• 页码：1077-1087
• 全文大小：609.6 KB

文摘

Catecholamines are among first compounds released during stress, and they regulate many functions of the organism, including immune system, via adrenergic receptors (ARs). Spleen, as an immune organ with high number of macrophages, possesses various ARs, from which β₂-ARs are considered to be the most important for the modulation of immune functions. Nevertheless, little is known about the regulation and involvement of ARs in the splenic function by stress. Therefore, the aim of this work was to measure the gene expression of ARs and several cytokines in the spleen of rats exposed to a single and repeated (14¡Á) immobilization stress (IMO). We have found a significant increase in β₂-AR mRNA after a single IMO, but a significant decrease in β₂-AR mRNA and protein level after repeated (14¡Á) IMO. The most prominent decrease was detected in the gene expression of the α_2A- and α_2C-AR after repeated IMO. However, changes in mRNA were translated into protein levels only for the α_2C-subtype. Other types of ARs remained unchanged during the stress situation. Since we proposed that these ARs might affect production of cytokines, we measured gene expression of pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10 and TGF-β1) cytokines. We detected changes only in IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA levels. While IL-6 mRNA was increased, IL-10 mRNA dropped after repeated IMO. According to these results we suggest that changes of β₂- and α_2C-ARs participate in IL-6-mediated processes in the spleen, especially during chronic stress situations.