Synergistic interaction of catecholamine hormones and Mycobacterium avium results in the induction of interleukin-10 mRNA expression by murine peritoneal macrophages

The results of this investigation provides evidence that catecholamine horm ones interact with macrophages that are infected with Mycobacterium avium r esulting in the induction of IL-IO mRNA and protein. The effect of catechol amine hormones was prevented by treating the cells with the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol but not by alpha-adrenergic antagonist phe ntolamine. The effect of catecholamine stimulation was mimicked by the addi tion of beta-2 adrenergic agonists and by the addition of cAMP to the infec ted macrophage cultures. These observations suggest that sympathetic nervou s system activation together with microbial infection results in a synergis tic interaction that could result in the control of inflammatory processes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.