Phenotypic and functional characterization of dendritic cells following unilateral cervical vagotomy in C57BL/6 mice

Author(s)

Daniel Sanzio Gimenes da Cruz

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia
• Defense date: 04 jul. 2013

Examining board members

Cristina de Oliveira Massoco Salles Gomes; Jose Alexandre Marzagao Barbuto; Frederico Azevedo da Costa Pinto

• Advisor: Cristina de Oliveira Massoco Salles Gomes

Abstract

The vagus nerve plays an important role in the regulation of homeostasis and its efferent branches emit signals capable of attenuating the inflammatory response via the inflammatory reflex. Our hypothesis was that this pathway may also alter the function of dendritic cells (DCs), since these cells have cholinergic receptors and can be regulated by the inflammatory cytokines. Thus, splenic DCs and DCs generated from bone marrow precursor cells unilaterally vagotomized animals were analyzed for phenotypic markers CD11c and MHC-II and co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. The bone marrow-derived DCs were also evaluated for phagocytic function, antigen presentation, as well as the production of cytokines such co-culture with lymphocytes from mice OT-II. A delayed type hypersensitivity test (DTH) twas also performed to evaluate the cellular immune response was also performed, but showed no significant changes. The analysis of phenotypic markers showed increased CD80 expression in splenic DCs from unilaterally vagotomized animals but there were no changes in bone marrow-derived DCs. The evaluation of phagocytic ability showed a significant decrease in DCs from unilaterally vagotomized animals while in the OT-II lymphocyte proliferation assay there was no significant effect. Among the cytokines evaluated, IL-6 and IFN-ϒ were increased in unilaterally vagotomized animals. Therefore, this study was able to demonstrate that DCs are also subject to modulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which, once modulated, these cells are able to exert influence on other cells. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/16261-2 - Differentiation, endocytic capacity and antigen-presenting function of dendritic cells isolated from mice subjected to subdiaphragmatic vagotomy
• Grantee: Daniel Sanzio Gimenes da Cruz
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master