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Expression of Dopaminergic Receptors on Human CD4+ T Lymphocytes: Flow Cytometric Analysis of Naive and Memory Subsets and Relevance for the Neuroimmunology of Neurodegenerative Disease

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Abstract

Dopamine (DA) is a crucial transmitter in the neuroimmune network, where it contributes to the nervous system-immune system interplay as well as in the communication among immune cells. DA acts through five different dopaminergic receptors (DR) grouped into two families: the D1-like (D1 and D5) and the D2-like (D2, D3 and D4). By use of 5-color flow cytometric analysis, we examined the expression of DR on human CD4+ naive T lymphocytes (CD3+CD4+CD45RA+CCR7+), central memory (TCM, CD3+CD4+CD45RA-CCR7+) and effector memory T cells (TEM, CD3+CD4+CD45RA-CCR7-). In addition, in cultured CD4+ T cells we investigated the changes in DR expression induced by stimulation with antiCD3/antiCD28 antibodies. Results showed that CD4+ T cells always expressed all the five DR: D1-like DR were identified on average on 11.6–13.1 % and D2-like DR on 3.1–8.1 % of the cells. DR on CD4+ naive T cells, TCM, and TEM had distinct expression patterns: naive T cells expressed more D1-like than D2-like DR, which on the contrary were increased in TCM and TEM cells. In cultured CD4+ T cells stimulation with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies increased the expression of D1-like DR by 71–84 % and of D2-like DR by 55–97 %. The frequency of DR was higher in apoptotic cells in comparison to viable cells, however stimulation increased all DR on viable cells, without affecting their expression on apoptotic cells. The present results contribute to unravel the complexity of dopaminergic pathways in human CD4+ T lymphocytes, suggesting their involvement in memory functions as well as in apoptotic processes. In view of the role of CD4+ memory T cells in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration during Parkinson’s disease, the relevance of these findings must be assessed in the clinical setting.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from Fondazione CARIPLO to Marco Cosentino (Project 2011-0504: Dopaminergic modulation of CD4+ T lymphocytes: relevance for neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in Parkinson’s disease - The dopaminergic neuro-immune connection). Natasa Kustrimovic has a postdoc fellow appointment supported by the grant.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Via Ottorino Rossi n. 9, 21100, Varese, VA, Italy

    Natasa Kustrimovic, Emanuela Rasini, Massimiliano Legnaro, Franca Marino & Marco Cosentino

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  1. Natasa Kustrimovic
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  2. Emanuela Rasini
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  3. Massimiliano Legnaro
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  4. Franca Marino
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  5. Marco Cosentino
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Correspondence to Marco Cosentino.

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Kustrimovic, N., Rasini, E., Legnaro, M. et al. Expression of Dopaminergic Receptors on Human CD4+ T Lymphocytes: Flow Cytometric Analysis of Naive and Memory Subsets and Relevance for the Neuroimmunology of Neurodegenerative Disease. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 9, 302–312 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11481-014-9541-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11481-014-9541-5

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