Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
14:39
Cholinergic Ligand–dependent Modulation of Oxidative Phosphorylation Coupling in Digitonin-permeabilized BE(2)-C Neuroblastoma Cells
Published on: April 28, 2026
Mediatophore regulates acetylcholine release from T cells.
Takeshi Fujii1, Yuki Takada-Takatori, Kazuhide Horiguchi
1Department of Pharmacology, Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, 97-1 Minamihokodate, Kodo, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0395, Japan. tfujii@dwc.doshisha.ac.jp
Journal of Neuroimmunology
|January 17, 2012
Summary
T cells release acetylcholine (ACh) when stimulated. Researchers found that mediatophore, a protein, is crucial for this ACh release and its expression is regulated by immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation of T cells increases acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis and release.
- This suggests a role for the lymphocytic cholinergic system in immune function regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mediatophore in mediating ACh release from T cells.
- To determine if mediatophore expression is regulated by immunological stimulation.
Main Methods:
- Used two human leukemic T cell lines as models.
- Performed immunohistochemical analysis to detect mediatophore.
- Analyzed mediatophore gene expression changes.
- Utilized anti-mediatophore small interference RNA (siRNA) to down-regulate mediatophore.
Main Results:
- Mediatophore was detected in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane of T cell lines.
- PHA stimulation up-regulated mediatophore gene expression.
- Anti-mediatophore siRNA reduced mediatophore expression and significantly decreased ACh release.
Conclusions:
- T cells express mediatophore, a key mediator of ACh release.
- Immunological stimulation regulates mediatophore expression in T cells.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Cholinergic Neurons: Neurotransmission
Cholinergic neurotransmission involves the synthesis and the release of acetylcholine (ACh) in order to transmit nerve impulses across the synapse. The process begins with the synthesis of acetyl CoA, a precursor for ACh, from ATP, acetate, and coenzyme A in the mitochondria. Choline, another vital precursor, is transported inside the neuron through choline transporters, including high-affinity choline transporter CHT1, low-affinity choline transporter CTL1, and lower-affinity choline...
01:25Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic
The pharmacological actions of acetylcholine are elicited via its binding to two families of cholinergic receptors or cholinoceptors, namely, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Muscarinic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors and have five subtypes, M1–M5. All mAChR subtypes are activated by acetylcholine and blocked by the antagonist, atropine.
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+. Activation...
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+. Activation...
01:22Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Cholinergic agonists or cholinomimetics mimic the action of acetylcholine to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. They are categorized into direct-acting and indirect-acting agents. The direct-acting cholinergic drugs induce the parasympathetic response by directly binding to the muscarinic or nicotine receptors. In comparison, the indirect-acting cholinergic drugs prevent acetylcholine hydrolysis, indirectly contributing to the extended parasympathetic response.
The direct-acting...
The direct-acting...
01:30Parasympathetic Signaling
Parasympathetic signaling plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes. It involves the release of acetylcholine (ACh) by parasympathetic neurons, which can have localized and short-lived effects. The majority of ACh released is rapidly inactivated at the synapse by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which hydrolyzes Ach into choline and acetate. Additionally, the tissue cholinesterase deactivates any ACh diffusing into the surrounding tissues.
The effects of...
The effects of...
00:59Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions
Direct-acting cholinergic agonists exert their pharmacological actions by mimicking the effects of acetylcholine on postsynaptic muscarinic receptors to generate parasympathetic responses. These agents elicit a range of physiological responses, including cardiovascular effects. For example, activation of muscarinic receptors induces bradycardia, decreased cardiac output, reduced peripheral resistance, and consequent hypotension. In the eye, stimulation of M3 receptors leads to smooth muscle...
01:26Chemical Synapses
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...