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Reflex principles of immunological homeostasis
Ulf Andersson1, Kevin J Tracey
1Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Ulf.Andersson@ki.se
Annual Review of Immunology
|January 10, 2012
Summary
The inflammatory reflex, a neural circuit involving the vagus nerve, regulates the immune system to maintain homeostasis. This reflex inhibits cytokine release, offering new therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Physiology
Background:
- Neural reflexes are known to maintain homeostasis in various body organs.
- The immune system is innervated, suggesting neural regulation of immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify neural circuits regulating innate and adaptive immunity.
- To elucidate the inflammatory reflex and its role in immunological homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Investigated sensory neuron activation by infection/injury molecular products.
- Traced neural pathways from the brainstem to immune organs like the spleen.
- Examined acetylcholine release from T cells and its interaction with α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChR) on immune cells.
Main Results:
- Identified the inflammatory reflex as a key circuit for immune homeostasis.
- Demonstrated that vagus nerve signals from the brainstem to the spleen modulate immune responses.
- Showcased acetylcholine's role in inhibiting macrophage cytokine release via α7 nAChR.
Conclusions:
- Neural reflexes are crucial for immune system stability.
- Neural and receptor-dependent mechanisms underpin immune regulation.
- Targeting neural pathways presents opportunities for treating inflammatory diseases.
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