Decreased Interleukin-4 Release from the Neurons of the Locus Coeruleus in Response to Immobilization Stress

Hyun Ju Lee, Hyun Jung Park, Angela Starkweather, Kyungeh An, Insop Shim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that immobilization (IMO) stress affects neuroimmune systems followed by alterations of physiology and behavior. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, is known to regulate inflammation caused by immune challenge but the effect of IMO on modulation of IL-4 expression in the brain has not been assessed yet. Here, it was demonstrated that IL-4 was produced by noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) of the brain and release of IL-4 was reduced in response to IMO. It was observed that IMO groups were more anxious than nontreated groups. Acute IMO (2 h/day, once) stimulated secretion of plasma corticosterone and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the LC whereas these increments were diminished in exposure to chronic stress (2 h/day, 21 consecutive days). Glucocorticoid receptor (GR), TH, and IL-4-expressing cells were localized in identical neurons of the LC, indicating that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal- (HPA-) axis and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary- (SAM-) axis might be involved in IL-4 secretion in the stress response. Accordingly, it was concluded that stress-induced decline of IL-4 concentration from LC neurons may be related to anxiety-like behavior and an inverse relationship exists between IL-4 secretion and HPA/SAM-axes activation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number3501905
JournalMediators of Inflammation
Volume2016
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Decreased Interleukin-4 Release from the Neurons of the Locus Coeruleus in Response to Immobilization Stress'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this