Analysis of neuropeptide PACAP receptor positive stromal cells in thymus

垂体腺苷酸环化酶激活多肽（垂体腺苷酸环化酶激活多肽，PACAP）是一种多功能、多效性的信号分子，具有重要的免疫活性。我们之前报道了PACAP受体（PAC1-R）在大鼠胸腺髓质的暴风细胞中强烈表达，并且其表达受辐照影响。在这项研究中，我们详细研究了大鼠胸腺中pac1 - r阳性细胞，并检测了恒河猴胸腺细胞TCDD（一种已知损害胸腺和T细胞的化学物质）。在大鼠胸腺中，髓质的中间型胸腺上皮细胞中发现pac -1- r阳性细胞。在恒河猴胸腺髓质中也可见pac1 - r阳性细胞。部分恒河猴及其暴露于TCDD的后代胸腺结构异常。此外，在这些恒河猴中，PAC1-R的表达与对照胸腺中的表达不同。PACAP有减轻大鼠缺血性神经元损伤和增加il -6分泌的作用。我们还研究了PACAP和IL-6在缺血后神经保护中的作用。我们的研究结果表明，PACAP通过一种涉及IL-6的信号机制来防止缺血后神经元细胞死亡。

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a multifunctional and pleiotropic signal molecule with important activities related to immunity. We previously reported that the PACAP receptor (PAC1-R) is strongly expressed in storomal cells in the medulla of the rat thymus and that its expression in affected by irradiation. In this study we present a detailed investigation of PAC1-R-positive cells in the rat thymus and examine thymus cells of rhesus monkeys TCDD a chemical known to impair thymus and T cells.In the rat thymus, PAC-1-R-positive cells were found in the intermediate type of thymic epithelial cells of the medulla. PAC1-R-potive cells were also seen in the thymic medulla of the rhesus monkey. The thymus showed unusual structures in some rhesus monkey dams and offspring exposed TCDD. Additionally, in these rhesus monkeys, PAC1-R expression was different from that in the control thymus.PACAP has been reported to decrease ischemic neuronal damage and increase IL-6secretion in rats. We also investigated the role played by PACAP and IL-6 in mediating neuroprotection after ischemia. Our results suggest that PACAP prevents neuronal cell death after ischemia via a signaling mechanism involving IL-6.