We have learned from our previous experiments that ablation of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system profoundly influences immune responses, changes the proportions of the lymphocyte subsets, and increases the number of Beta-adrenergic receptors on the lymphocyte surface. We now plan to study the significance of the autonomic nervous system in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We will study experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis which will serve as a model for antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases and as an experimental model for human myasthenia gravis. We will also study experimental allergic encephalomyelitis which is a model for cell-mediated autoimmune diseases and is commonly used as a possible model for multiple sclerosis. Using flow cytometry, we will continue to study functional changes in lymphocytes from animals with a destroyed sympathetic nervous system and will compare the changes observed with functional changes observed in lymphocytes from mice with an hypertrophied sympathetic nervous system. We believe that an understanding of how the sympathetic nervous system interacts with the nervous system and how it influences autoimmune diseases will have an impact on the prevention and treatment of these diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS018413-05
Application #
3398456
Study Section
Immunological Sciences Study Section (IMS)
Project Start
1982-09-30
Project End
1989-08-31
Budget Start
1987-09-01
Budget End
1988-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Chicago
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
225410919
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60637
Chelmicka-Schorr, E; Wollmann, R L; Kwasniewski, M N et al. (1993) The beta 2-adrenergic agonist terbutaline suppresses acute passive transfer experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Int J Immunopharmacol 15:19-24
Chelmicka-Schorr, E; Kwasniewski, M N; Czlonkowska, A (1992) Sympathetic nervous system and macrophage function. Ann N Y Acad Sci 650:40-5
Chelmicka-Schorr, E; Kwasniewski, M N; Wollmann, R L (1992) Sympathectomy augments adoptively transferred experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. J Neuroimmunol 37:99-103
Chelmicka-Schorr, E; Kwasniewski, M N; Czlonkowska, A (1992) Sympathetic nervous system modulates macrophage function. Int J Immunopharmacol 14:841-6
Chelmicka-Schorr, E; Arnason, B G (1990) Nervous system-immune system interactions. Res Publ Assoc Res Nerv Ment Dis 68:67-90
Chelmicka-Schorr, E; Checinski, M E; Arnason, B G (1990) Sympathetic nervous system and PC12 pheochromocytoma-derived factors suppress stimulation of lymphocytes. Brain Behav Immun 4:23-9
Chelmicka-Schorr, E; Kwasniewski, M N; Thomas, B E et al. (1989) The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol suppresses experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats. J Neuroimmunol 25:203-7
Chelmicka-Schorr, E; Checinski, M E; Arnason, B G (1989) PC12 pheochromocytoma and sympathetic nervous system derived trophic factors augment growth of neuroblastoma. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 25:1057-9
Reder, A; Checinski, M; Chelmicka-Schorr, E (1989) The effect of chemical sympathectomy on natural killer cells in mice. Brain Behav Immun 3:110-8
Chelmicka-Schorr, E; Checinski, M E (1989) Sympathetic nervous system derived trophic factor augments growth of human neuroblastoma in vitro. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 25:393-4

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