Dopaminergic and Adrenergic Pathways as Targets for Drug Repurposing in the Neuroimmune Network

The role of dopamine in the modulation of monocyte-induced Th17- and Th1-immune response in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with autoimmune mechanism of development. The investigation of neuroimmune interaction is one of the most developing directions in MS pathogenesis study. Catecholamines are direct mediators of this interaction and can be involved in the pathogenesis of MS by modulating cells of both innate and adaptive immune systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of dopamine and norepinephrine on the ability of monocytes of patients with relapsing-remitting MS, to induce Th17- and Th1-immune response, which play a crucial role in the autoimmunity of the CNS. We found, that both dopamine and norepinephrine modulate the production of Th17- (IL-23, IL-1β, and IL-6) and Th1-promoting (IL-12p70) cytokines by activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells or CD14+ monocytes in patients with MS and in healthy subjects. We also found the inhibitory effect of dopamine and norepinephrine on monocyte-induced production of IL-17 and IFN-γ by autologous CD4+ T-cells in both groups. Finally, the multidirectional role of D1- and D2-like dopaminergic receptors in the modulatory effect of dopamine on the ability of CD14+ monocytes to activate CD4+ T-cells was established, expanding the potential role of dopamine in the neuroimmune interaction.

[The prospect of dopaminergic therapy in multiple sclerosis]

Dopamine is a direct mediator of neuroimmune interactions. Recent studies show that by acting on the dopaminergic receptors, it is possible to modulate Th17-immune response, which play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Dopamine can modulate Th17 cells function as well as dendritic cell-mediated Th17-immune response that allows considering dopaminergic receptors as a new therapeutic target in multiple sclerosis. In this short communication, the prospects of using dopaminergic therapy as a pathogenetic treatment for multiple sclerosis are discussed.