Sub-second Release of Catecholamines from Dendritic Cells

Abstract

Record ID: 28

Award(s): Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentorship

Program Affiliation: NA

Presentation Type: Podium

Abstract: The neuroimmune system is complex and is regulated by small chemical messengers released from resident immune and neuronal cells. Catecholamines like dopamine and norepinephrine are important chemical messengers responsible for initiating and propagating messages between neurons and immune cells; however, the mechanism and dynamics of this signaling is relatively unknown. The presence of the intracellular machinery to synthesize and interact with catecholamines in dendritic cells has been known for over a decade; however, direct measurement of catecholamine secretion in real time from immune cells has not been possible. Here, we have discovered that Bone Marrow derived dendritic cells are capable of releasing catecholamines on a sub second time scale.  We have used a revolutionary technique, often used in the neuroscience field, called fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) to measure sub second fluctuations of catecholamines from isolated dendritic cells. This work provides direct evidence that dendritic cells are capable of releasing catecholamines, potentially as a feedback communicator to resident sympathetic neurons in host immune organs. These results also prove that immune cells can signal on the same time scale as neurons. This work will hopefully open the door to enable more sophisticated studies at the neuron-immune synapse in the future.