ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY-INDUCED SYMPATHECTOMY - EFFECTS ON IMMUNE STATUS AND ACUTE MORPHINE-INDUCED IMMUNOMODULATION

The present study examined the role of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in immunomodulation by using the acetylcholinesterase monoclonal antibody (AChE mAb)-induced sympathectomy model. As part of this inve stigation, the effects of AChE mAb treatment on the immune alterations produced by acute morphine treatment also were explored. Experimental rats received tail vein injections of murine monoclonal IgG2b antibod ies against rat brain acetylcholinesterase, which produce a destructio n of cholinergic, sympathetic preganglionic neurons and a resultant de crease in sympathetic activity. Control rats received tail vein inject ions of murine IgG antibodies, which do not affect sympathetic pregang lionic neurons or sympathetic activity. One week after antibody treatm ent, rats received a subcutaneous injection of 15 mg/kg morphine or th e saline vehicle. One hour after the morphine or saline injections, ra ts were sacrificed and immune assays were conducted. AChE mAb treatmen t increased the mitogen-stimulated proliferation of splenic T cells an d interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by stimulated splenocytes, indicatin g that these immune measures are sensitive to the AChE mAb-induced alt eration in sympathetic function. Treatment with AChE mAb did not alter the mitogen-stimulated proliferation of splenic B cells or blood T ce lls, splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity, or the production of i nterferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by stimulated splenocytes, indicating that these immune measures are relatively insensitive to the AChE mAb-indu ced alteration in sympathetic activity. The AChE mAb-induced alteratio n in sympathetic activity did not affect the suppressive effects of ac ute morphine treatment on the mitogen-stimulated proliferative respons e of splenic T and B cells and blood T cells, splenic NK cell activity , and the production of IFN-gamma, and IL-2 by stimulated splenocytes. (C) 1997 Academic Press.