beta 2-Adrenergic Receptor Enhances the Alternatively Activated Macrophages and Promotes Biliary Injuries Caused by Helminth Infection

The autonomic nervous system has been studied for its involvement in the control of macrophages; however, the mechanisms underlying the interaction between the adrenergic receptors and alternatively activated macrophages (M2) remain obscure. Using FVB wild-type and beta 2 adrenergic receptors knockout, we found that beta 2-AR deficiency alleviates hepatobiliary damage in mice infected with C. sinensis. Moreover, beta 2-AR-deficient mice decrease the activation and infiltration of M2 macrophages and decrease the production of type 2 cytokines, which are associated with a significant decrease in liver fibrosis in infected mice. Our in vitro results on bone marrow-derived macrophages revealed that macrophages from Adrb2(-/-) mice significantly decrease M2 markers and the phosphorylation of ERK/mTORC1 induced by IL-4 compared to that observed in M2 macrophages from Adrb2(+/+). This study provides a better understanding of the mechanisms by which the beta 2-AR enhances type 2 immune response through the ERK/mTORC1 signaling pathway in macrophages and their role in liver fibrosis.