Activation of GABA(A) receptors inhibits T cell proliferation.

<h4>Background</h4>The major sites for fast synaptic inhibition in the central nervous system (CNS) are ion channels activated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These receptors are referred as GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)R). Recent evidence indicates a role of GABA(A)R in modulating the immun...

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Main Authors: Emma L Sparrow, Sonya James, Khiyam Hussain, Stephen A Beers, Mark S Cragg, Yury D Bogdanov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0251632&type=printable
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author Emma L Sparrow
Sonya James
Khiyam Hussain
Stephen A Beers
Mark S Cragg
Yury D Bogdanov
author_facet Emma L Sparrow
Sonya James
Khiyam Hussain
Stephen A Beers
Mark S Cragg
Yury D Bogdanov
author_sort Emma L Sparrow
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>The major sites for fast synaptic inhibition in the central nervous system (CNS) are ion channels activated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These receptors are referred as GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)R). Recent evidence indicates a role of GABA(A)R in modulating the immune response. This work aimed to discern the role of GABA and GABA(A)Rs in human and mouse T cell activity.<h4>Methods</h4>Mouse splenocytes or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were activated with anti-CD3 antibodies and the proliferation of both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells assessed through flow cytometry. Subsequently, the effects on T cell proliferation of either GABA(A)R modulation by diazepam that is also capable of activating mitochondrial based translocator protein (TSPO), alprazolam and allopregnanolone or inhibition by bicucculine methiodide (BMI) and (1,2,5,6-Tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid (TPMPA) were assessed.<h4>Results</h4>Positive modulation of GABA(A)Rs either by benzodiazepines or the neurosteroid allopregnanolone inhibits both mouse and human T cell proliferation. GABAergic inhibition of T cell proliferation by benzodiazepines could be rescued by GABA(A)R blocking. Our data suggest that benzodiazepines influence T cell proliferation through both TSPO and GABA(A)Rs activation.<h4>Conclusions</h4>We conclude that activation of GABA(A)Rs provides immunosuppression by inhibiting T cell proliferation.
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spelling doaj-art-9ada402162ab4f38b756f30cc092c1e32025-08-20T03:25:34ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01165e025163210.1371/journal.pone.0251632Activation of GABA(A) receptors inhibits T cell proliferation.Emma L SparrowSonya JamesKhiyam HussainStephen A BeersMark S CraggYury D Bogdanov<h4>Background</h4>The major sites for fast synaptic inhibition in the central nervous system (CNS) are ion channels activated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These receptors are referred as GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)R). Recent evidence indicates a role of GABA(A)R in modulating the immune response. This work aimed to discern the role of GABA and GABA(A)Rs in human and mouse T cell activity.<h4>Methods</h4>Mouse splenocytes or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were activated with anti-CD3 antibodies and the proliferation of both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells assessed through flow cytometry. Subsequently, the effects on T cell proliferation of either GABA(A)R modulation by diazepam that is also capable of activating mitochondrial based translocator protein (TSPO), alprazolam and allopregnanolone or inhibition by bicucculine methiodide (BMI) and (1,2,5,6-Tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid (TPMPA) were assessed.<h4>Results</h4>Positive modulation of GABA(A)Rs either by benzodiazepines or the neurosteroid allopregnanolone inhibits both mouse and human T cell proliferation. GABAergic inhibition of T cell proliferation by benzodiazepines could be rescued by GABA(A)R blocking. Our data suggest that benzodiazepines influence T cell proliferation through both TSPO and GABA(A)Rs activation.<h4>Conclusions</h4>We conclude that activation of GABA(A)Rs provides immunosuppression by inhibiting T cell proliferation.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0251632&type=printable
spellingShingle Emma L Sparrow
Sonya James
Khiyam Hussain
Stephen A Beers
Mark S Cragg
Yury D Bogdanov
Activation of GABA(A) receptors inhibits T cell proliferation.
PLoS ONE
title Activation of GABA(A) receptors inhibits T cell proliferation.
title_full Activation of GABA(A) receptors inhibits T cell proliferation.
title_fullStr Activation of GABA(A) receptors inhibits T cell proliferation.
title_full_unstemmed Activation of GABA(A) receptors inhibits T cell proliferation.
title_short Activation of GABA(A) receptors inhibits T cell proliferation.
title_sort activation of gaba a receptors inhibits t cell proliferation
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0251632&type=printable
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AT yurydbogdanov activationofgabaareceptorsinhibitstcellproliferation