EFFECT OF ACETYLCHOLINE ON IN VITRO IL-2 PRODUCTION AND NK CELL CYTOTOXICITY OF RATS

Abstract

In the present study, we explored the effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on lymphocyte functionand the receptor mechanisms mediating the effect. Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity were used to assess function of the Tlymphocytes and the NK cells from rat spleens. Muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs) agonistpilocarpine and antagonist atropine, as well as nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) agonistnicotine and antagonist tubocurarine were used to determine the action pathways of ACh on Tand NK cells. ACh at the concentrations of 10 to 10 M exerted an enhancing effect on Con A- -10 -8induced IL-2 production and an inhibitory effect on NK cell cytotoxicity. Both pilocarpine andnicotine at the same doses as ACh could mimic these effects of ACh. The enhancing effect of AChon IL-2 production could be blocked by either atropine or tubocurarine. But the inhibitory effectof ACh on NK cell cytotoxicity was abolished only by atropine, not by tubocurarine. Theseresults suggest that ACh, which is a neurotransmitter of peripheral parasympathetic nervoussystem, can regulate function of T and NK cells, and the different regulatory effects of ACh onthe two types of lymphocytes may be mediated by the different receptor mechanisms.