Substance P is a key mediator of stress-induced protection from allergic sensitization via modified antigen presentation

J Immunol. 2011 Jan 15;186(2):848-55. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0903878. Epub 2010 Dec 20.

Abstract

Interaction between the nervous and immune systems greatly contributes to inflammatory disease. In organs at the interface between our body and the environment, the sensory neuropeptide substance P (SP) is one key mediator of an acute local stress response through neurogenic inflammation but may also alter cytokine balance and dendritic cell (DC) function. Using a combined murine allergic inflammation/noise stress model with C57BL/6 mice, we show in this paper that SP--released during repeated stress exposure--has the capacity to markedly attenuate inflammation. In particular, repeated stress exposure prior to allergen sensitization increases DC-nerve fiber contacts, enhances DC migration and maturation, alters cytokine balance, and increases levels of IL-2 and T regulatory cell numbers in local lymph nodes and inflamed tissue in a neurokinin 1-SP-receptor (neurokinin-1 receptor)-dependent manner. Concordantly, allergic inflammation is significantly reduced after repeated stress exposure. We conclude that SP/repeated stress prior to immune activation acts protolerogenically and thereby beneficially in inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / administration & dosage*
  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / immunology*
  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / pathology
  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / prevention & control*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electric Stimulation / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Inflammation Mediators / physiology*
  • Langerhans Cells / immunology
  • Langerhans Cells / metabolism
  • Langerhans Cells / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Noise / adverse effects
  • Ovalbumin / administration & dosage
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Random Allocation
  • Stress, Physiological / immunology*
  • Substance P / physiology*

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Substance P
  • Ovalbumin