In last decade, accumulated evidence reviewed that dopamine and its receptor expression in human lymphocyte. My previous study found opioid receptor binding in blood lymphocyte of opioid addicts were down-regulated when compared with healthy control using radio-ligan binding assay. My current study in amniotic fluid stem cell-differentiated to dopaminergic neurons, I accidentally found that blood lymphocytes expressed tyrosine hydroxylase (when I used blood lymphocyte as a negative control for TH expression but they are positive to TH by western blotting). It is interesting that blood lymphocyte expressed the rate limiting enzyme for dopamine synthesis. So, It is possible that blood lymphocyte may produce its own dopamine. Do you know what is the possible role of the dopamine system in opioid receptors in peripheral blood lymphocyte? Is its regulation of dopamine synthesis occur in peripheral lymphocyte similar to central nervous system? Thanks for sharing and discussion.
Thanks, Daniel.
That's very insightful response. It's very complicated by dopamine, opioid, and immune system. I got your point in the possible hypothesis in dopamine regulation in immune cells. It's interesting that you said "immunological synapse". Do you mean that the interaction of communication of immune cells (peripheral), immune cells in the brain (microglia) and neurons? Possibility, the presence of DA and opioid receptor in lymphocyte may involve in the inflammation process in opioid addiction.
Hi Ruchee.
Interesting discussions!
In my favorite cells, ovarian follicular granulosa cells (GCs) that are regulated by FSH and LH via receptors, secreting steroid hormones that can give signals to the brain, the neuroendocrine cells. Upon the activation, these cells secrete more or less Gn. The GCs express lots of synaptic vesicular proteins, SNAREs regulated by the Gn. Thus every cell appears to have soft-wired synapses to the neuroendocrine cells. The GCs also interact with the growing oocyte within the follicle, meaning local soft-wired synapses present. The oocytes also secrete vesicular components during fertilization to give signals to spermatozoa by exocytosis and release exosomes (microvesicles) to communicate with sperm cells, limited local soft-wired synapses that are very close to the neuronal and neuromuscular synapses.
Therefore, most of body cells have membranous vesicles within the cells, suggesting communications by secreting something known or unknown. It is not unique only in the neuronal hard wired-synapses and well-known immune cells.
Regards.
Dear Prof. Sang Ho Lee
Thanks for your insightful discussion. You well described by raised how the brain and neuroendocrine cells have soft-wired synapses by secreting components to give signals to another system. This clarifies the possible way to have immunological synapse among brain, central and peripheral immune cells.
Thanks for your kindness
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