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A Role for Neuropeptides in UVB‐Induced Systemic Immunosuppression
Author(s) -
Garssen Johan,
Buckley Theresa L.,
Loveren Henk Van
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1998.tb02490.x
Subject(s) - immunosuppression , calcitonin gene related peptide , systemic administration , sensory system , capsaicin , neuropeptide , calcitonin , medicine , immunology , chemistry , pharmacology , endocrinology , biology , neuroscience , receptor , in vivo , microbiology and biotechnology
The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of sensory nerves in UV light‐induced systemic immunomodulation. Contact hypersensitivity to the low molecular weight compound picrylchloride was used as a model for cellular immunity that can be suppressed by low ( i.e. suberythemal) doses of UV light even after exposure at a distant locus ( i.e. systemic immunosuppression). In sensory nerve‐depleted mice, achieved by two subcutaneous injections with the neurotoxin capsaicin before the age of 4 weeks, UV light exposure failed to inhibit contact hypersensitivity responses to picrylchloride. This indicates that sensory nerves are at least partially involved in the induction of systemic immunosuppression by UV light. In order to analyze whether sensory neuropeptides, such as calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) and tachykinins, are involved in UV light‐induced systemic immunosuppression, mice were pretreated with selective antagonists prior to each UV light exposure. These experiments indicated that CGRP but not the tachykinins plays a crucial role in the UV light‐induced systemic immunosuppression.