Differential effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on leukocyte subsets in the blood: mobilization of B-1-like B-lymphocytes and activated monocytes

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology Vol. 117; no. 1; pp. 125 - 132
• Main Authors: Bedoui, Sammy, Kuhlmann, Susanne, Nave, Heike, Drube, Jens, Pabst, Reinhard, von Hörsten, Stephan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 02-07-2001
• Subjects: AB-1 cells; Activated monocytes; Animals; B-Lymphocytes - drug effects; B-Lymphocytes - physiology; CD5 + CD11b + B-1 cells; Cell Movement - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Leukocyte Count; Leukocyte subpopulations; Male; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - physiology; neuropeptide Y; Neuropeptide Y (NPY); Neuropeptide Y - pharmacology; NK-cells; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Rats; Activated monocytes; NK-cells; Neuropeptide Y (NPY); Leukocyte subpopulations; CD5 + CD11b + B-1 cells
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-5728(01)00328-9

Sympathetic nervous system activation mobilizes leukocytes but it is unknown whether the concomitant neuropeptide Y (NPY)-release also alters blood leukocyte counts. Using chronic intravenous (i.v.) cannulation of freely moving rats and flow cytometry, time-, dose- and subset-specific effects of NPY on blood leukocytes were investigated 1–15 min after injection: High-dose NPY increases leukocytes numbers by preferentially mobilizing CD4
+ T-cells, activated NKR-P1A
+ monocytes and NK-cells. Low-dose NPY significantly decreases B-lymphocyte and NK-cell numbers. Furthermore, NPY dose-dependently mobilizes a previously undetected IgM
lowCD5
+CD11b
+ B-cell subpopulation in rats (“B1-like” B-lymphocytes). These data suggest a role for the sympathetic neurotransmitter NPY in neuroimmune alterations in vivo.