Dopamine in Allergy and Inflammation: Cellular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

Dopamine (DA), well-known as a crucial neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, also exerts significant regulatory effects on the immune system. The effects of DA on immune cells such as T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages are context-dependent, and its dual role in promoting both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses highlights its complex regulatory function. In particular, DA plays an important role in diseases such as allergic asthma by regulating T-cell differentiation, particularly through receptor interactions such as dopamine receptor D4. The effect of DA on the nuclear factor kappa B and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 inflammation pathways highlights its potential in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. This review examines the different roles of DA in modulating the activity of immune cells and its implications for the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases, with a particular focus on the signaling pathways involved and the receptor-specific effects of DA.

Cite this article as: Özgür S, Erbaş O. Dopamine in Allergy and Inflammation: Cellular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential. JEB Med Sci 2025;6(1):28-33.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.