Abstract
The vaginal epithelium provides a barrier to pathogens and recruits immune defenses through the secretion of cytokines and chemokines. Several studies have shown that mucosal sites are innervated by norepinephrine-containing nerve fibers. Here we report that norepinephrine potentiates the proinflammatory response of human vaginal epithelial cells to products produced by Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen that causes menstrual toxic shock syndrome. The cells exhibit immunoreactivity for catecholamine synthesis enzymes and the norepinephrine transporter. Moreover, the cells secrete norepinephrine and dopamine at low concentrations. These results indicate that norepinephrine may serve as an autocrine modulator of proinflammatory responses in the vaginal epithelium.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 8-16 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroimmunology |
Volume | 259 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 15 2013 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This project was supported by NIDA/NIH DA-10200 (DRB). AJB was a postdoctoral trainee in the PharmacoNeuroImmunology Training Program at the University of Minnesota, supported by NIDA/NIH T32DA007097 .
Keywords
- Catecholamine
- Epithelium
- Norepinephrine
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Superantigens
- Toxic shock syndrome