Korean J Immunol.  1997 Jun;19(2):229-244.

Effect of Capsaicin on Immune Responses, Anaphylaxis and Tumorigenesis in Mice

• Ha TY
• Song WJ
• Park JS
• Ko YS
• Ha HJ

Abstract

It has been known that the interconnection between the gervous, endocrine and immune system are largely mediated through regulatory soluble factors such as neruopeptides, cytokines and hormones. Capsaicin, the pungent principle of hot peppers, is a neurotoxin that affects primary sensory neurons of the C and A-b type and depletes primary sensory neurons (polymodal nociceptors) of neuropeptides like tachykinin. In this study capsaicin was used to explore the possible role of the neruons on the expression of cellular and humoral immune responses and TNF-a prodcution. Mice were pretreated with s.c. injections in the neck region with a single dose of 100 u,g of capsaicin per mouse before immunization. ...continue...

Keyword

Capsaicin; Anaphylaxis; Immune responses; Tumorigenesis; TNF-a; Mitogen responses; Neurotoxin

MeSH Terms

Anaphylaxis*
Animals
Capsaicin*
Carcinogenesis*
Cytokines
Immune System
Immunity, Humoral
Immunization
Mice*
Neck
Neuropeptides
Sensory Receptor Cells
Tachykinins
Capsaicin
Cytokines
Neuropeptides
Tachykinins