POWRE: Phenylethanolamine N-methyl Transferase in Brain Lymphoid Tissues

斯图尔特IBN 9870382苯乙醇胺N-甲基转移酶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基因在哺乳动物的淋巴器官中表达，如脾、胸腺和淋巴结，但目前尚不清楚这些器官中的哪些细胞产生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。同样，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。该项目的目标是(1)在大鼠和小鼠的中枢神经系统和淋巴组织中鉴定表达PNMT基因的细胞；(2)研究PNMT和肾上腺素在这些区域的调节；(3)探索研究肾上腺素在这些组织中功能的模型系统。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以及灵长类和软体动物等各种生物的免疫细胞中，这一发现将对许多物种的调控机制产生广泛的影响。

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.