Bidirectional Communication Between the Brain and the Immune System

Weigent, Douglas A.; Blalock, J. Edwin

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-69146-6_1

Cited by 1 publication

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“…In the early 1980s, it was shown that cells of the immune system produce the adrenocorticotropin, endorphins, thyroid stimulating hormone proteins as well as a prolactin/ GH-related mRNA in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes (Weigent and Blalock, 2007). Our own findings at this time on production of GH by cells of the immune system clearly showed that leukocytes contained the mRNA transcript and GH molecules identical to pituitary GH in terms of antigenicity and molecular weight (Weigent, 1996).…”

Section: -1997mentioning

confidence: 65%

Protein hormones and immunity

Kelley

Weigent

Kooijman³

2007

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

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A number of observations and discoveries over the past 20 years support the concept of important physiological interactions between the endocrine and immune systems. The best known pathway for transmission of information from the immune system to the neuroendocrine system is humoral in the form of cytokines, although neural transmission via the afferent vagus is well documented also. In the other direction, efferent signals from the nervous system to the immune system are conveyed by both the neuroendocrine and autonomic nervous systems. Communication is possible because the nervous and immune systems share a common biochemical language involving shared ligands and receptors, including neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, growth factors, neuroendocrine hormones and cytokines. This means that the brain functions as an immune-regulating organ participating in immune responses. A great deal of evidence has accumulated and confirmed that hormones secreted by the neuroendocrine system play an important role in communication and regulation of the cells of the immune system. Among protein hormones, this has been most clearly documented for prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), but significant influences on immunity by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) have also been demonstrated. Here we review evidence obtained during the past 20 years to clearly demonstrate that neuroendocrine protein hormones influence immunity and that immune processes affect the neuroendocrine system. New findings highlight a previously undiscovered route of communication between the immune and endocrine systems that is now known to occur at the cellular level. This communication system is activated when inflammatory processes induced by proinflammatory cytokines antagonize the function of a variety of hormones, which then causes endocrine resistance in both the periphery and brain. Homeostasis during inflammation is achieved by a balance between cytokines and endocrine hormones.

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Section: -1997mentioning

confidence: 65%