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Sympathetic Tone Differentially Regulates MHC‐II Expression by Macrophages and Enteric Glia in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Author(s) -
Vanderkamp Robert,
Chow Aaron,
Garver Hannah,
Fink Gregory,
Gulbransen Brian
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.652.19
Subject(s) - major histocompatibility complex , enteric nervous system , biology , microglia , immunology , mhc class ii , microbiology and biotechnology , sympathectomy , neuroimmunology , mhc class i , immune system , inflammation , endocrinology , medicine
The sympathetic nervous system modulates essential gut functions including motility, blood flow, and gut immunity. Yet how sympathetic innervation regulates the function of specific immune cell types in the gut is poorly understood. Norepinephrine regulates expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules in astrocytes and microglia in the brain. We aimed to test the hypothesis that sympathetic innervation of their counterparts in the gut, enteric glia and macrophages, regulates their antigen‐presenting capacity by modulating MHC‐II expression. We tested our hypothesis by assessing MHC‐II expression by enteric glia or macrophages before and after removal of sympathetic tone by surgery or treatment with 6‐hydroxydopamine. Expression of MHC‐II by enteric glia or macrophages was assessed by dual‐label immunohistochemistry and mean fluorescence compared with Student's t‐test. Sympathectomy increased expression in macrophages by 260% (P<.005). In contrast, sympathectomy had no effect on MHC‐II expression by enteric glia. Elevated MHC‐II expression in macrophages was not due to increased macrophage numbers because macrophage densities were not altered by denervation. Our results suggest that sympathetic tone suppresses expression of MHC‐II in macrophages. Expression of MHC‐II by enteric glia may require other cues. Funded by the Larry D. Fowler Undergraduate Research Stipend