Differential regulation of neurotrophin expression by mitogens and neurotransmitters in mouse lymphocytes

In this study. we examined the expression of neurotrophins in mouse lymphoc ytes and the regulation of their expression by mitogens and neurotransmitte rs. We found that mixed splenocytes as well as T and B lymphocytes expresse d mRNA for all the neurotrophins examined. Differential regulation of the n eurotrophins was obtained upon stimulation of the cells. Thus. LPS increase d the expression of NGF, BDNF and NT-3 in splenocytes and B cells. whereas Con-A increased the mRNA of NT-3 and NT-4 in T cells and NGF expression in splenocytes. The neurotransmitter substance P and the beta-adrenergic agoni st, isoproterenol induced an increase in the expression of NGF. Our results suggest an important role for the different neurotrophins in the function of the immune system and point to a bi-directional interaction between neur otrophins and neurotransmitters in this system. (C) 2000 Published by Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.