The Effects of Catecholamines on the Immune System in Particularly the Effects They Have on T-Helper Lymphocytes
The effects of catecholamines on the immune system in particularly the effects they have on T-helper lymphocytes
The immune system is a vast and versatile collection of cells within the human body. These cells prevent the spread of infections, viruses and bacteria throughout the entire body and help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The immune system can be affected in many ways with a variety of substances up or down regulating its ability to function correctly. Catecholamines which are found in varying quantities are one such substance.
Catecholamines are commonly known as the “flight or fright” hormone and are chemical compounds derived from the amino acid tyrosine (Elenkov et al, 2000) and act as hormones and neurotransmitters. Catecholamine is a collective name for the three main molecules known as adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. The stimulation of the central nervous system results in the direct activation of its two major outflow systems which subsequently regulate the release of catecholamines and cortisol. These 2 systems, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) (Smith, 2003), can activate one another and are often triggered by circulating cytokines within the blood. The more important of the two systems, SNS, regulates catecholamines and excitation causes the release of the two most important compounds adrenaline from the adrenal medulla and noradrenaline from the sympathetic nerve terminals. This produces an elevated arterial plasma concentration of both hormones which is thought to occur in a linear fashion with the duration and intensity of exercise performed (Pedersen and Hoffman-Goetz, 2000).
Catecholamines released due to the excitation of the SNS affect lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and granulocytes each to a varying degree. These changes in immune cells subsequently cause a change in cellular trafficking, proliferation, antibody production and cytokine secretion and activity
The immune system is a vast and versatile collection of cells within the human body. These cells prevent the spread of infections, viruses and bacteria throughout the entire body and help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The immune system can be affected in many ways with a variety of substances up or down regulating its ability to function correctly. Catecholamines which are found in varying quantities are one such substance.
Catecholamines are commonly known as the “flight or fright” hormone and are chemical compounds derived from the amino acid tyrosine (Elenkov et al, 2000) and act as hormones and neurotransmitters. Catecholamine is a collective name for the three main molecules known as adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. The stimulation of the central nervous system results in the direct activation of its two major outflow systems which subsequently regulate the release of catecholamines and cortisol. These 2 systems, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) (Smith, 2003), can activate one another and are often triggered by circulating cytokines within the blood. The more important of the two systems, SNS, regulates catecholamines and excitation causes the release of the two most important compounds adrenaline from the adrenal medulla and noradrenaline from the sympathetic nerve terminals. This produces an elevated arterial plasma concentration of both hormones which is thought to occur in a linear fashion with the duration and intensity of exercise performed (Pedersen and Hoffman-Goetz, 2000).
Catecholamines released due to the excitation of the SNS affect lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and granulocytes each to a varying degree. These changes in immune cells subsequently cause a change in cellular trafficking, proliferation, antibody production and cytokine secretion and activity
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