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Functions of acetylcholine-producing lymphocytes in immunobiology
Stephen G Malin1, Vladmir S Shavva1, Laura Tarnawski1
1Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Acetylcholine-producing T cells, identified by choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), regulate inflammation and immunity. These cells are crucial for controlling blood pressure, vascular responses, and fighting infections.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Cholinergic signals, mediated by acetylcholine, are increasingly recognized for their role in regulating inflammation and immunity.
- Choline acetyltransferase-positive (ChAT+) lymphocytes can synthesize and release acetylcholine, acting as key players in neural-immune communication.
- These acetylcholine-producing T cells are involved in the 'inflammatory reflex,' modulating cytokine release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the emerging evidence on the physiological roles of ChAT+ lymphocytes in immunity and vascular biology.
- To highlight the importance of acetylcholine-producing T cells in regulating inflammatory and anti-microbial defense mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent findings in neuroscience and immunology.
- Analysis of studies investigating the function of ChAT+ lymphocytes in various physiological processes.
Main Results:
- ChAT+ lymphocytes produce acetylcholine, influencing neural signals in the inflammatory reflex.
- Mice lacking acetylcholine-producing T cells exhibit elevated blood pressure, impaired vasodilatation, and reduced viral control.
- Deficiency in these cells also leads to alterations in gut microbiota composition.
Conclusions:
- ChAT+ lymphocytes play critical physiological roles in the regulation of inflammation and anti-microbial defense.
- The full scope of ChAT+ lymphocytes in immunity and vascular biology is an active area of research with significant implications.
Abstract:
Recent advances in neuroscience and immunology have shown that cholinergic signals are vital in the regulation of inflammation and immunity. Choline acetyltransferase+ (ChAT+) lymphocytes have the capacity to biosynthesize and release acetylcholine, the cognate ligand for cholinergic receptors. Acetylcholine-producing T cells relay neural signals in the 'inflammatory reflex' that regulate cytokine release in spleen. Mice deficient in acetylcholine-producing T cells have increased blood pressure, show reduced local vasodilatation and viral control in lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, and display changes in gut microbiota compared with littermates. These observations indicate that ChAT+ lymphocytes play physiologically important roles in regulation of inflammation and anti-microbial defense. However, the full scope and importance of ChAT+ lymphocytes in immunity and vascular biology remains to be elucidated. Here, we review key findings in this emerging area.
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