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Gunsch G, Paradie E, Townsend KL. Peripheral nervous system glia in support of metabolic tissue functions. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:622-639. [PMID: 37591710 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) relays information between organs and tissues and the brain and spine to maintain homeostasis, regulate tissue functions, and respond to interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. Glial cells perform support roles to maintain nerve function, plasticity, and survival. The glia of the central nervous system (CNS) are well characterized, but PNS glia (PNSG) populations, particularly tissue-specific subtypes, are underexplored. PNSG are found in large nerves (such as the sciatic), the ganglia, and the tissues themselves, and can crosstalk with a range of cell types in addition to neurons. PNSG are also subject to phenotypic changes in response to signals from their local tissue environment, including metabolic changes. These topics and the importance of PNSG in metabolically active tissues, such as adipose, muscle, heart, and lymphatic tissues, are outlined in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilian Gunsch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Emma Paradie
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kristy L Townsend
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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2
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Boahen A, Hu D, Adams MJ, Nicholls PK, Greene WK, Ma B. Bidirectional crosstalk between the peripheral nervous system and lymphoid tissues/organs. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1254054. [PMID: 37767094 PMCID: PMC10520967 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1254054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) influences the immune system generally by regulating the systemic concentration of humoral substances (e.g., cortisol and epinephrine), whereas the peripheral nervous system (PNS) communicates specifically with the immune system according to local interactions/connections. An imbalance between the components of the PNS might contribute to pathogenesis and the further development of certain diseases. In this review, we have explored the "thread" (hardwiring) of the connections between the immune system (e.g., primary/secondary/tertiary lymphoid tissues/organs) and PNS (e.g., sensory, sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems (ENS)) in health and disease in vitro and in vivo. Neuroimmune cell units provide an anatomical and physiological basis for bidirectional crosstalk between the PNS and the immune system in peripheral tissues, including lymphoid tissues and organs. These neuroimmune interactions/modulation studies might greatly contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms through which the PNS possibly affects cellular and humoral-mediated immune responses or vice versa in health and diseases. Physical, chemical, pharmacological, and other manipulations of these neuroimmune interactions should bring about the development of practical therapeutic applications for certain neurological, neuroimmunological, infectious, inflammatory, and immunological disorders/diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Boahen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri-Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Dailun Hu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Murray J. Adams
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Philip K. Nicholls
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Wayne K. Greene
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Bin Ma
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
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GFAP and desmin expression in lymphatic tissues leads to difficulties in distinguishing between glial and stromal cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13322. [PMID: 34172765 PMCID: PMC8233388 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92364-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we found many immune cells including antigen presenting cells neurally hard wired in the T-cell zone of most lymphoid organs like amongst others, lymph nodes in rats, mice and humans. Single immune cells were reached by single neurites and enclosed with a dense neural meshwork. As it is well known that axons are always accompanied by glial cells, we were able to identify Schwann cells in the hilum, medullary and capsule region, like expected. Unexpected was the result, that we found oligodendrocyte-like cells in these regions, myelinating more than one axon. Likewise important was the finding, that one of the standard glial markers used, a polyclonal GFAP antibody equally bound to desmin and therefore marked nearly all stromal cells in cortical, paracortical and medullary cord regions. More detailed analysis showed that these results also appeared in many other non-lymphoid organs. Therefore, polyclonal GFAP antibodies are only conditionally usable for immunohistochemical analysis in peripheral tissues outside the central nervous system. It remains to be elucidated, if the binding of the GFAP antibody to desmin has its reason in a special desmin variant that can give stromal cells glial character.
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Lim GN, Regan SL, Ross AE. Subsecond spontaneous catecholamine release in mesenteric lymph node ex vivo. J Neurochem 2020; 155:417-429. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gary N. Lim
- Department of Chemistry University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH USA
| | - Samantha L. Regan
- Department of Pediatrics University of CincinnatiCollege of Medicine and Division of NeurologyCincinnati Children’s Research Foundation Cincinnati OH USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH USA
| | - Ashley E. Ross
- Department of Chemistry University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH USA
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Pellicciari C, Biggiogera M, Malatesta M. A journal of histochemistry as a forum for non-histochemical scientific societies. Eur J Histochem 2019; 63. [PMID: 31868322 PMCID: PMC6945069 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2019.3106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Histochemical techniques are widely applied in biomedical research and, during the last twenty years, they were among the methods used in more than 590,000 scientific articles in indexed journals. However, a very small percentage of these papers were published in strictly histochemical journals. A possible strategy to widen the audience of the histochemical journals making them attractive to non-histochemist authors might be to publish and make open-access available the proceedings of the meetings and conferences of valued scientific societies whose fellows use microscopy and histochemistry in their experimental activity. In the last years' experience of the European Journal of Histochemistry, this approach was effective to increase the number of published articles on stem cells and development, connective tissue and nerve cell biology.
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Hu D, Nicholls PK, Claus M, Wu Y, Shi Z, Greene WK, Ma B. Immunofluorescence characterization of innervation and nerve-immune cell interactions in mouse lymph nodes. Eur J Histochem 2019; 63. [PMID: 31631646 PMCID: PMC6802453 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2019.3059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The peripheral nervous system communicates specifically with the immune system via local interactions. These interactions include the “hardwiring” of sympathetic/ parasympathetic (efferent) and sensory nerves (afferent) to primary (e.g., thymus and bone marrow) and secondary (e.g., lymph node, spleen, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoid tissue/organs. To gain a better understanding of this bidirectional interaction/crosstalk between the two systems, we have investigated the distribution of nerve fibres and PNS-immune cell associations in situ in the mouse lymph node by using immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy/ three-dimensional reconstruction. Our results demonstrate: i) the presence of extensive nerve fibres in all compartments (including B cell follicles) in the mouse lymph node; ii) close contacts/ associations of nerve fibres with blood vessels (including high endothelial venules) and lymphatic vessels/sinuses; iii) close contacts/associations of nerve fibres with various subsets of dendritic cells (e.g., B220+CD11c+, CD4+CD11c+, CD8a+ CD11c+, and Mac1+CD11c+), Mac1+ macrophages, and B/T lymphocytes. Our novel findings concerning the innervation and nerve-immune cell interactions inside the mouse lymph node should greatly facilitate our understanding of the effects that the peripheral nervous system has on cellular- and humoral-mediated immune responses or vice versa in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dailun Hu
- Clinical College, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang.
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Al-Shalan HAM, Hu D, Nicholls PK, Greene WK, Ma B. Innervation and nerve-immune cell contacts in mouse Peyer's patches. Histol Histopathol 2019; 35:371-383. [PMID: 31486062 DOI: 10.14670/hh-18-158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Neural regulation of the function of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) relies on a delicate balance of the two divisions of its nervous system, namely, the intrinsic and extrinsic divisions. The intrinsic innervation is provided by the enteric nervous system (ENS), whereas the extrinsic innervation includes sympathetic/parasympathetic nerve fibers and extrinsic sensory nerve fibers. In the present study, we used immunofluorescent staining of neurofilament-heavy (NF-H) to reveal the distribution of nerve fibers and their associations with immune cells inside mouse Peyer's patches (PP), an essential part of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Our results demonstrate (1) the presence of an extensive meshwork of NF-H-immunoreactive presumptive nerve fibers in all PP compartments including the lymphoid nodules, interfollicular region, follicle-associated epithelium, and subepithelial dome; (2) close associations/contacts of nerve fibers with blood vessels including high endothelial venules, indicating neural control of blood flow and immune cell dynamics inside the PP; (3) close contacts between nerve fibers/endings and B/T cells and various subsets of dendritic cells ( e.g., B220⁻, B220⁺, CD4⁻, CD4⁺, CD8⁻, and CD8⁺). Our novel findings concerning PP innervation and nerve-immune-cell contacts in situ should facilitate our understanding of bi-directional communications between the PNS and GALT. Since the innervation of the gut, including PP, might be important in the pathogenesis and progression of some neurological, infectious, and autoimmune diseases, e.g., prion diseases and inflammatory bowel disease, better knowledge of PNS-immune system interactions in the GALT (including PP) should benefit the development of potential treatments for these diseases via neuroimmune manipulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huda A M Al-Shalan
- Discipline of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.,Department of Microbiology/Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Dailun Hu
- Clinical College, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Philip K Nicholls
- Discipline of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Wayne K Greene
- Discipline of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Bin Ma
- Discipline of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
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Al-Shalan HAM, Hu D, Nicholls PK, Greene WK, Ma B. Immunofluorescent characterization of innervation and nerve-immune cell neighborhood in mouse thymus. Cell Tissue Res 2019; 378:239-254. [PMID: 31230166 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-03052-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The central nervous system impacts the immune system mainly by regulating the systemic concentration of humoral substances, whereas the peripheral nervous system (PNS) communicates with the immune system specifically according to local "hardwiring" of sympathetic/parasympathetic (efferent) and sensory (afferent) nerves to the primary and secondary lymphoid tissue/organs (e.g., thymus spleen and lymph nodes). In the present study, we use immunofluorescent staining of neurofilament-heavy to reveal the distribution of nerve fibers and the nerve-immune cell neighborhood inside the mouse thymus. Our results demonstrate (a) the presence of an extensive meshwork of nerve fibers in all thymic compartments, including the capsule, subcapsular region, cortex, cortico-medullary junction and medulla; (b) close associations of nerve fibers with blood vessels (including the postcapillary venules), indicating the neural control of blood circulation and immune cell dynamics inside the thymus; (c) the close proximity of nerve fibers to various subsets of thymocytes (e.g., CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+CD8+), dendritic cells (e.g., B220+, CD4+, CD8+ and F4/80+), macrophages (Mac1+ and F4/80+) and B cells. Our novel findings concerning thymic innervation and the nerve-immune cell neighborhood in situ should facilitate the understanding of bi-directional communications between the PNS and primary lymphoid organs. Since the innervation of lymphoid organs, including the thymus, may play essential roles in the pathogenesis and progression of some neuroimmune, infectious and autoimmune diseases, better knowledge of PNS-immune system crosstalk should benefit the development of potential therapies for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huda A M Al-Shalan
- Discipline of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.,Department of Microbiology/Virology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baghdad University, Baghdad, 10070, Iraq
| | - Dailun Hu
- Clinical College, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050031, Hebei, China
| | - Philip K Nicholls
- Discipline of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Wayne K Greene
- Discipline of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Bin Ma
- Discipline of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
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Pellicciari C. Histochemistry as a versatile research toolkit in biological research, not only an applied discipline in pathology. Eur J Histochem 2018; 62. [PMID: 30572698 PMCID: PMC6317132 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2018.3006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The impressive progress of histochemistry over the last 50 years has led to setting up specific and sensitive techniques to describe dynamic events, through the detection of specific molecules in the very place where they exist in live cells. The scientific field where histochemistry has most largely been applied is histopathology, with the aim to identify disease-specific molecular markers or to elucidate the etiopathological mechanisms. Numerous authors did however apply histochemistry to a variety of other research fields; their interests range from the microanatomy of animal and plant organisms to the cellular mechanisms of life. This is especially apparent browsing the contents of the histochemical journals where the articles on subjects other than pathology are the majority; these journals still keep a pivotal role in the field of cell and tissue biology, while being a forum for a diverse range of biologists whose scientific interests expand the research horizon of histochemistry to ever novel subjects. Thus, histochemistry can always receive inspiring stimuli toward a continuous methodological refinement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Pellicciari
- University of Pavia, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani".
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Hu D, Nicholls PK, Yin C, Kelman K, Yuan Q, Greene WK, Shi Z, Ma B. Immunofluorescent Localization of Non-myelinating Schwann Cells and Their Interactions With Immune Cells in Mouse Thymus. J Histochem Cytochem 2018; 66:775-785. [PMID: 29775115 DOI: 10.1369/0022155418778543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is innervated by sympathetic/parasympathetic nerve fibers from the peripheral nervous system (PNS), suggesting a neural regulation of thymic function including T-cell development. Despite some published studies, data on the innervation and nerve-immune interaction inside the thymus remain limited. In the present study, we used immunofluorescent staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) coupled with confocal microscopy/three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction to reveal the distribution of non-myelinating Schwann cells (NMSC) and their interactions with immune cells inside mouse thymus. Our results demonstrate (1) the presence of an extensive network of NMSC processes in all compartments of the thymus including the capsule, subcapsular region, cortex, cortico-medullary junction, and medulla; (2) close associations/interactions of NMSC processes with blood vessels, indicating the neural control of blood flow inside the thymus; (3) the close "synapse-like" association of NMSC processes with various subsets of dendritic cells (DC; e.g., B220+ DCs, CD4+ DCs, and CD8+ DCs), and lymphocytes (B cells, CD4+/CD8+ thymocytes). Our novel findings concerning the distribution of NMSCs and the associations of NMSCs and immune cells inside mouse thymus should help us understand the anatomical basis and the mechanisms through which the PNS affects T-cell development and thymic endocrine function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dailun Hu
- Clinical College, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Philip K Nicholls
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Changfu Yin
- Clinical College, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Khama Kelman
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Qionglan Yuan
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wayne K Greene
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
| | - Zhongli Shi
- Clinical College, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bin Ma
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
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Ma B, Yin C, Hu D, Newman M, Nicholls PK, Wu Z, Greene WK, Shi Z. Distribution of non-myelinating Schwann cells and their associations with leukocytes in mouse spleen revealed by immunofluorescence staining. Eur J Histochem 2018; 62:2890. [PMID: 29943953 PMCID: PMC6038114 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2018.2890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The nervous system and the immune system communicate extensively with each other in order to maintain homeostasis and to regulate the immune response. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) communicates specifically with the immune system according to local interactions, including the “hardwiring” of sympathetic/parasympathetic (efferent) and sensory nerves (afferent) to lymphoid tissue and organs. To reveal this type of bidirectional neuroimmune interaction at the microscopic level, we used immunofluorescent staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) coupled with confocal microscopy/3D reconstruction to reveal the distribution of nonmyelinating Schwann cells (NMSCs) and their interactions with immune cells inside mouse spleen. Our results demonstrate i) the presence of an extensive network of NMSC processes in all splenic compartments including the splenic nodules, periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS), marginal zone, trabecula, and red pulp; ii) the close association of NMSC processes with blood vessels (including central arteries and their branches, marginal sinuses, penicillar arterioles and splenic sinuses); iii) the close “synapse-like” interaction/association of NMSC processes with various subsets of dendritic cells (DCs; e.g., CD4+CD11c+ DCs, B220+CD11c+ DCs, and F4/80+ CD11c+ DCs), macrophages (F4/80+), and lymphocytes (B cells, CD4+ T helper cells). Our novel findings concerning the distribution of NMSCs and NMSC-leukocytes interactions inside mouse spleen should improve our understanding of the mechanisms through which the PNS affects cellular- and humoral-mediated immune responses in a variety of health conditions and infectious/non-infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Ma
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences.
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