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Cholinergic modulation of immunoglobulin secretion from avian plasma cells: The role of calcium
- Source :
- Journal of Neuroimmunology. 51:113-121
- Publication Year :
- 1994
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 1994.
-
Abstract
- The existence of a functional connection between the nervous and immune systems has long been argued. To determine if such a link exists in the secretory immune system, we have examined the avian lacrimal gland (Harderian gland) which contains large numbers of plasma cells. We have shown that these plasma cells bind an antibody to muscarinic acetylcholine receptor and that carbachol, an acetylcholine agonist, increases the secretion rate of IgG by these cells above a constitutive baseline level. This neurotransmitter-dependent increase of immunoglobulin secretion requires an influx of Ca2+, whereas the constitutive baseline secretion is apparently less dependent on such a flux. Furthermore, the Ca2+ flux appears to be mediated by voltage-dependent calcium channels. These data support the hypothesis that plasma cells can respond to neurotransmitters and, in the case of acetylcholine, increase immunoglobulin secretion.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
Carbachol
Plasma Cells
Immunology
Immunoglobulins
Immunoglobulin secretion
Membrane Potentials
Harderian gland
Internal medicine
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor
medicine
Animals
Immunology and Allergy
Receptors, Cholinergic
Secretion
Acetylcholine receptor
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
biology
Immunohistochemistry
Endocrinology
Neurology
biology.protein
Calcium
Female
Neurology (clinical)
Antibody
Chickens
Acetylcholine
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 01655728
- Volume :
- 51
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Neuroimmunology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....64a9404cdcac0911d2687fc59eccf13b