Splenic denervation suppresses mRNA gene expression and protein production of IL-1beta and IL-6 by peritoneal macrophages in both Trypanosoma brucei brucei-infected and non-infected rats

• <i>Objective:</i> To test the hypothesis that the nervous system participates in modulating the immune response during experimental African trypanosomiasis caused by <i>Trypanosoma brucei brucei</i>. <i>Methods and Results:</i> Using in situ hybridization and immunochemistry, we studied the effects of splenic sympathectomy on mRNA gene expression and protein production of IL-1β and IL-6 in splenic and peritoneal macrophages (PMΦ) of Sprague-Dawley rats infected with <i>T. brucei brucei</i> and non-infected rats. The enhancements of mRNA gene expression and production of IL-1β and IL-6 by peritoneal macrophages were significantly suppressed by the splenic sympathectomy in both infected and non-infected rats. <i>Conclusions:</i> Our data indicate a probably stimulatory role of the sympathetic nervous system during the host immune response in both normal and <i>T. brucei brucei</i>-infected rats.

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