POWRE: Phenylethanolamine N-methyl Transferase in Brain Lymphoid Tissues

苯乙醇胺n -甲基转移酶（PNMT）是合成应激激素肾上腺素所需的最后一种酶。最近的研究表明，PNMT基因在哺乳动物淋巴样器官中表达，如脾脏、胸腺和淋巴结，但不清楚这些器官中哪些类型的细胞产生PNMT，以及这些区域的PNMT除了合成肾上腺素外是否还有其他功能。类似地，在脊椎动物的大脑中也发现了PNMT和肾上腺素，但肾上腺素在大脑中的功能从未被阐明。本项目的目标是：(1)鉴定大鼠和小鼠中枢神经系统和淋巴组织中表达PNMT基因的细胞；(2)研究PNMT和肾上腺素在这些区域的调控；(3)探索肾上腺素在这些组织中的功能研究的模型系统。这些研究将增加我们对PNMT和肾上腺素在神经系统和免疫系统中的作用的理解。由于肾上腺素存在于脊椎动物的大脑和多种生物体的免疫细胞中，如灵长类动物和软体动物，因此该发现将对许多物种的调节机制具有广泛的意义。

Stewart IBN 9870382 Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) is the final enzyme required for synthesis of the stress hormone epinephrine. Recent studies indicate that the PNMT gene is expressed in mammalian lymphoid organs, such as spleen, thymus and lymph nodes, but it is unclear what types of cells in these organs produce PNMT and whether the PNMT in these areas has other functions in addition to synthesis of epinephrine. Similarly, PNMT and epinephrine are found in the brains of vertebrates, but the functions of epinephrine in the brain have never been clarified. The goals of the proposed project are to (1) identify cells that express the PNMT gene in the central nervous system and lymphoid tissues of rats and mice, (2) investigate the regulation of PNMT and epinephrine in these areas and (3) explore model systems for studying the function of epinephrine in these tissues. These studies will increase our understanding of the role of PNMT and epinephrine in both the nervous system and the immune system. Because epinephrine is present in the vertebrate brain and in immune cells of organisms as diverse as primates and molluscs, the findings will have broad implications for regulatory mechanisms in many species.