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Psychoneuroimmunology: then and now
Monika Fleshner1, Mark L Laudenslager
1University of Colorado-Boulder, USA.
Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews
|November 13, 2004
Summary
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) reveals bidirectional communication between the nervous and immune systems. Stressors, physical or psychological, activate host defenses, with heat shock proteins highlighting the dual role of stress responses on immunity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Psychology
- Endocrinology
- Physiology
Background:
- Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) emerged in the late 1970s/early 1980s, integrating neurosciences with psychology, psychiatry, endocrinology, physiology, and biomedical research.
- This review traces the evolution of PNI from its inception to the present day.
- PNI investigates the intricate bidirectional communication between the complex nervous and immune systems.
Observation:
- Evolutionarily ancient signaling pathways and host defense mechanisms are integral to neuro-immune communication.
- The distinction between physical and psychological stressors is artificial, as both elicit adaptive host defense responses.
- Host defense mechanisms respond meaningfully to both physical and psychological stressors.
Findings:
- The review proposes a novel perspective on evolutionarily conserved molecules, specifically heat shock proteins.
- Evidence suggests that the activation of the acute stress response possesses a dual nature.
- Acute stress responses can be beneficial for immunity but also detrimental to optimal immune function.
Implications:
- Understanding the dual role of stress responses is crucial for comprehending host defense.
- This perspective reframes the impact of stressors on the neuro-immune axis.
- Further research into heat shock proteins may elucidate mechanisms underlying stress-induced immune modulation.