Effects of Central and Peripheral Administration of Neuropeptide S on the Level of Serum Proinflammatory Cytokines in Pigs

摘要

Objectives: The recently discovered neuropeptide S (NPS) and its cognate receptor represent a novel system of neuro-modulation and are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. NPS has been implicated in the regulation of proinflammatory cytokine secretion in the pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) of pigs in vitro. In this study, we tested the hypothesis whether either central or peripheral injection of NPS would stimulate the secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines in pigs. Methods: In experiment 1, pigs were fitted with an intracerebroventricular can-nula and indwelling jugular catheters, and were then randomly assigned to receive 10 or 30 nmol NPS in artificial ce-rebrospinal fluid. In experiment 2, pigs were fitted with indwellingjugular catheters, and randomly received 15 or 30 nmol NPS in saline. Serial blood samples were collected every 10 min for 1 h before and for 2 h after injections, and serum concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-a were determined. Results: Serum concentrations of these cytokines were increased in pigs that received central and peripheral injection of NPS, and the elevated secretion of these cytokines was in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.