Acute restraint stress enhances calcium mobilization and proliferative response in splenic lymphocytes from mice

Abstract

Calcium (Ca2+ ) plays an essential role in lymphocyte activation and maturation. Acute and chronic stress has been shown to modulate the lymphocyte immune response; but the relationship between cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+ ]i) and the immune response in lymphocytes following exposure to stress has not been examined. In the present study, we investigated the effects of acute restraint stress on [Ca2+ ]i and the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes from mice. We observed that 2 h of restraint significantly increased plasma corticosterone levels in mice. On examining [Ca2+ ]i and the proliferation ex vivo of splenic lymphocytes isolated from restraint-stressed mice using fura-2 and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide, respectively, we found that acute restraint stress caused a significant increase in resting [Ca2+ ]i and significantly enhanced the ability of concanavalin A (Con A; a T-cell-selective mitogen) to increase [Ca2+ ]i but not that of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; a B-cell-selective mitogen). In addition, acute restraint stress significantly enhanced Con A-stimulated but not LPS-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. Overall, there was a positive correlation between [Ca2+ ]i and T-cell proliferation following acute restraint stress. The enhancements of [Ca2+ ]i and T-cell proliferation were completely suppressed by verapamil (a Ca2+ channel blocker). These results suggest that acute restraint stress enhances Con A-stimulated T-cell proliferation by increasing [Ca2+ ]i via stimulation of Ca2+ entry.

Acute Restraint Stress Enhances Calcium Mobilization and Glutamate Exocytosis in Cerebrocortical Synaptosomes from Mice

“…The plasma corticosterone concentrations in the control (n = 24 per group) and stressed (n = 24 per group) mice were 196 ± 11, and 397 ± 27 ng/ml, respectively (t[1, 46] = 11.83, P \ 0.0001) as observed previously [15]. The corticosterone level in the control group was consistent with those reported by Silberman et al [25] and Stark et al [26].…”

“…Mice in the restraint-stressed group were taken to a different room, where each mouse was restricted by placing it in a well-ventilated polypropylene tube (40 mm in diameter 9 80 mm in length) as described previously [15]. The restraint procedure was conducted for 2 h between 08:00 and 12:00 h. The mice were kept in their home cages for 15 min following the restraint stress and then sacrificed.…”

Experimental diabetes attenuates calcium mobilization and proliferative response in splenic lymphocytes from mice

“…Data express group mean ± SEM (7 independent experiments performed in duplicate). Statistically significant differences are indicated as: **P \ 0.0001 versus control group, # P \ 0.0001 versus corresponding Con A (2 lg/ml) group The inhibitory effect of verapamil in the control mice was in agreement with the findings for human T-lymphocytes and mouse splenic lymphocytes reported by Birx et al [34], Nakabayashi et al [32] and Satoh et al [33]. At the concentration used in the present study, it had no effect on cell viability as assessed by the trypan blue exclusion test (data not shown).…”

“…1b). For the control mice, this inhibitory effect was in agreement with the findings for human T-lymphocytes and mouse splenic lymphocytes reported by Nakabayashi et al [32] and Satoh et al [33]. The removal of external Ca 2?…”

Serotonin Transporter in Lymphocytes of Rats Exposed to Physical Restraint Stress

“…Physical restraint is one of the strongest stressors for rodents and has an important impact on several immune parameters [19], including the proliferative response of lymphocytes to mitogens [20,21]. In addition, SERT has been proposed as a regulatory element of immune function in different types of cells [22], but it is unknown how stress can affect the role of SERT in the proliferation of lymphocytes.…”