Aim: To detect the expression of calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), and serotonin (5-HT) in normal human lymph nodes and explore their influences on immune system.
Methods: The expression of CGRP, ACTH and 5-HT in the lymph nodes, including proliferative lymph nodes, were detected by SABC Immunohistochemical staining.
Results: In 35 cases of lymph node specimens, the positive rates of CGRP, ACTH and 5-HT expression were 88.5%(31/35), 85.4%(30/35) and 94.2%(33/35) respectively. These 3 molecules had a similar distribution in germinal center of lymph nodes, mainly in the cells of paracortical region, the cells in germinal center of lymph follicles and macrophages, etc.
Conclusion: There are considerably high positive rates of CGRP, ACTH and 5-HT in human peripheral lymph nodes, and their distribution area are basically coincident with that of immunocytes in the lymph nodes.