Silva Alberto B, Aw Danielle, Palmer Donald B
Royal Veterinary College, Host Response and Genes and Development Group, Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, London, United Kingdom.
Immunology. 2006 May;118(1):131-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2006.02351.x.
Evidence suggests that the immune and neuroendocrine systems cross talk by sharing ligands and receptors. Hormones and neuropeptides produced by the neuroendocrine system often modulate the function of lymphoid organs and immune cells. We have previously reported the intrathymic expression of somatostatin (SOM) in the mouse and that several neuropeptides, most notably calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), SOM and substance P (SP), can modulate thymocyte development. However, little is known about the intrathymic expression of these neuropeptides either in the mouse or in other species. Moreover, a comparative analysis of the expression of these molecules would highlight the evolutionary importance of intrathymic neuroendocrine interactions in T-cell development. We have studied the expression of different neuropeptides in the thymus of zebrafish, Xenopus, avians, rodent, porcine, equine and human by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We found that CGRP, NPY, SOM, SP and vasointestinal polypeptide (VIP) are expressed in the thymus of all species investigated. The thymic location of many of these neuropeptides was conserved and appears to be within the stromal compartments. Interestingly, in the avian thymus the expression of CGRP, SOM and SP appears to change depending on the age of the tissue. These findings suggest that neuropeptides may play an important role in T-cell development and provide further evidence of cross talk between the immune and neuroendocrine systems.
有证据表明，免疫和神经内分泌系统通过共享配体和受体进行相互作用。神经内分泌系统产生的激素和神经肽常常调节淋巴器官和免疫细胞的功能。我们之前报道过生长抑素（SOM）在小鼠胸腺内的表达，并且几种神经肽，最显著的是降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）、神经肽Y（NPY）、SOM和P物质（SP），能够调节胸腺细胞的发育。然而，对于这些神经肽在小鼠或其他物种胸腺内的表达情况知之甚少。此外，对这些分子表达的比较分析将突出胸腺内神经内分泌相互作用在T细胞发育中的进化重要性。我们通过免疫组织化学和逆转录聚合酶链反应研究了斑马鱼、非洲爪蟾、鸟类、啮齿动物、猪、马和人类胸腺中不同神经肽的表达。我们发现CGRP、NPY、SOM、SP和血管活性肠肽（VIP）在所研究的所有物种的胸腺中均有表达。许多这些神经肽在胸腺中的定位是保守的，并且似乎位于基质区室。有趣的是，在鸟类胸腺中，CGRP、SOM和SP的表达似乎会根据组织的年龄而变化。这些发现表明神经肽可能在T细胞发育中发挥重要作用，并为免疫和神经内分泌系统之间的相互作用提供了进一步的证据。
