Muscarinic receptors control markers of inflammation in the small intestine of BALB/c mice

J Neuroimmunol. 2022 Jan 15:362:577764. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577764. Epub 2021 Nov 9.

Abstract

Muscarinic-acetylcholine-receptors (mAChRs) modulate intestinal homeostasis, but their role in inflammation is unclear; thus, this issue was the focus of this study. BALB/c mice were treated for 7 days with muscarine (mAChR/agonist), atropine (mAChR/antagonist) or saline. Small-intestine samples were collected for histology and cytofluorometric assays in Peyer's patches (PP) and lamina propria (LP) cell-suspensions. In LP, goblet-cells/leukocytes/neutrophils/MPO+ cells and MPO/activity were increased in the muscarine group. In PP, IFN-γ+/CD4+ T or IL-6+/CD4+ T cell numbers were higher in the muscarine or atropine groups, respectively. In LP, TNF-α+/CD4+ T cell number was higher in the muscarine group and lower in the atropine.

Keywords: Cholinergic antagonists; Goblet cells; Intestinal inflammation; Muscarinic receptors; Myeloperoxidase; Neutrophils.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology*
  • Intestine, Small / drug effects
  • Intestine, Small / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Muscarinic Agonists / pharmacology
  • Peyer's Patches / drug effects
  • Peyer's Patches / immunology
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / immunology*

Substances

  • Muscarinic Agonists
  • Receptors, Muscarinic