Abstract
Jejunal Peyer's patches (JPP) are innervated sites of immune induction and enteropathogen infection. We investigated the role of enteric nerves in modulating pathogen entry into porcine JPP. Presumptive norepinephrine (NE)-containing nerve fibers were localized in JPP domes and follicle-associated villi by secondary immunofluorescence histochemistry. NE or the neuronal conduction blocker saxitoxin increased intracellular internalization of pathogenic Salmonella choleraesuis and Escherichia coli O157:H7, but not nonpathogenic E. coli, into isolated JPP mucosa. NE action was prevented by the α-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine. Withdrawal of enteric neural activity or NE administration appears to modulate JPP interactions with pathogenic bacteria.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 74-82 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroimmunology |
Volume | 141 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2003 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants R01 DA-10200, R01 AI-44918, and T32 DA-007239.
Keywords
- Enteric nervous system
- Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
- Mucosal immunity
- Salmonella enterica serovar choleraesuis
- Sympathetic nerves