E. Josefsson et al., IMMUNOMODULATING AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF THE SYMPATHOLYTICCOMPOUND 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE, Journal of neuroimmunology, 55(2), 1994, pp. 161-169
The objective of this study was to analyse the anti-inflammatory and i
mmunosuppressive properties of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a well know
n sympatholytic compound. Collagen type II arthritis, a T cell-depende
nt autoimmune disease, was significantly suppressed by a short-term ad
ministration of 6-OHDA at the time of the disease onset. Similar outco
me was observed when in vivo models of T cell-dependent and independen
t inflammatory reactions were applied. In contrast, long-term pretreat
ment with 6-OHDA and hence efficient sympatholysis did neither affect
the course of arthritis nor the outcome of T cell-dependent and indepe
ndent inflammatory reactions. These findings, together with evidence o
f dose-dependent in vitro inhibitory effects of 6-OHDA on lymphocyte p
roliferation and differentiation, indicate that the anti-inflammatory
features of this compound are mediated through a direct action on effe
ctor cells rather than by sympatholysis.