Acute down-regulation of antibody production following spinal cord injury: Role of systemic catecholamines

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2003

Abstract

We investigated whether antibody production to antigens arising in the subarachnoid space is depressed acutely after spinal cord injury (SCI), and whether such depression is due to abnormal catecholamine levels. To assess antibody responses, ovalbumin (OVA) was injected into the spinal subarachnoid space (i.t.) of rats via an indwelling catheter after SCI at T4 or laminectomy (LAM). Antibody responses tested at days 0, 7, and 14 (d0, d7, d14) postinjury revealed that SCI animals exhibited an antibody response significantly lower than LAM animals on d7, but one that reached control levels by d14. ELISPOT assays indicated that the cervical lymph nodes, known to be innervated by superior cervical ganglia (SCG), processed i.t. OVA. The reduction in antibody production after SCI could not be mimicked with surgical deafferentation of the SCG. However, blockade of β-adrenergic receptors prior to SCI did reverse the decrease, suggesting an adverse effect of the surge of catecholamines that accompanies the injury. Surgical removal of sympathetic inputs to the cervical lymph nodes prior to SCI failed to reverse the effect on antibody production, suggesting a systemic source of catecholamines. We conclude that antibody responses against i.t. antigens are attenuated acutely after SCI due to the massive release of systemic catecholamines that accompanies SCI.

Identifier

0042835637 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1093/jnen/62.8.848

ISSN

00223069

PubMed ID

14503640

First Page

848

Last Page

854

Issue

8

Volume

62

Grant

R01AI041786

Fund Ref

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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