Virus- and interferon-induced loss of inhibitory M2 muscarinic receptor function and gene expression in cultured airway parasympathetic neurons

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-1-1998

Journal

Journal of Clinical Investigation

Volume

102

Issue

1

DOI

10.1172/JCI1114

Keywords

Acetylcholine; Asthma; Bronchoconstriction; Hyperresponsiveness; Parainfluenza

Abstract

Viral infections increase vagally mediated reflex broncho-constriction. Decreased function of inhibitory M2 muscarinic receptors on the parasympathetic nerve endings is likely to contribute to increased acetylcholine release. In this study, we used cultured airway parasympathetic neurons to determine the effects of parainfluenza virus and of interferon (IFN)-γ on acetylcholine release, inhibitory M2 receptor function, and M2 receptor gene expression. In control cultures, electrically stimulated acetylcholine release increased when the inhibitory M2 receptors were blocked using atropine (10-5 M) and decreased when these receptors were stimulated using methacholine (10-5 M). Acetylcholine release was increased by viral infection and by treatment with IFN-γ (300 U/ml). In these cells, atropine did not further potentiate, nor did methacholine inhibit, acetylcholine release, suggesting decreased inhibitory M2 receptor function and/or expression. Using a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method, we demonstrated that M2 receptor gene expression was decreased by more that an order of magnitude both by virus infection and by treatment with IFN. Thus, viral infections may increase vagally mediated bronchoconstriction both by directly inhibiting M2 receptor gene expression and by causing release of IFN-γ which inhibits M2 receptor gene expression.

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