Catecholamines in Macrophages

儿茶酚胺，如多巴胺和去甲肾上腺素，是由神经元和肾上腺产生的调节分子。 最近，研究人员发现，免疫系统的选定细胞不仅可以摄取儿茶酚胺，还可以合成这些分子。 然而，没有关于这些细胞中儿茶酚胺合成和释放的调节的信息。 此外，免疫细胞释放的儿茶酚胺的功能尚不清楚。 本项目的目的是研究从小鼠分离的RAW264.7巨噬细胞系和腹腔巨噬细胞中儿茶酚胺合成、储存和释放的分子调控。 巨噬细胞衍生的儿茶酚胺的自分泌和旁分泌作用也将被研究。巨噬细胞是免疫系统中的重要细胞，而儿茶酚胺是神经和内分泌细胞产生的重要分子。基于免疫细胞产生儿茶酚胺的新证据，该项目将探索这些分子在巨噬细胞中的合成和功能。 这项研究的结果将有助于我们了解巨噬细胞的功能，并为神经，内分泌和免疫系统之间的联系提供线索。

Catecholamines, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, are regulatory molecules produced by neurons and the adrenal gland. Recently, investigators discovered that selected cells of the immune system not only take up catecholamines, but also synthesize these molecules. There is no information, however, on the regulation of catecholamine synthesis and release in these cells. Furthermore, the functions of catecholamines released by immune cells are not clear. The goal of this project is to investigate the molecular regulation of catecholamine synthesis, storage, and release in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line and in peritoneal macrophages isolated from mice. The autocrine and paracrine actions of macrophage-derived catecholamines also will be investigated. Macrophages are important cells in the immune system, and catecholamines are important molecules produced by neural and endocrine cells. Based on new evidence that immune cells produce catecholamines, this project will explore the synthesis and function of these molecules in macrophages. Results of this study will contribute to our understanding of macrophage functions and provide clues to links between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems.