Regulation of inflammatory responses by the autonomic nervous system

It has long been suggested that various aspects of the immune system is affected by the activity of the nervous system. However, how the inputs from the nervous system are converted into the outputs from the immune system had been largely unclear. Studies in the last decade revealed the cellular and molecular basis by which inputs from the autonomic nervous system control the development and functions of immune cells. The principal autonomic neurotransmitters, acetylcholine and noradrenaline, are involved in immune regulation in the context of inflammation through various molecular pathways. Circadian rhythm in the activity of the autonomic nervous system produces fluctuations of immune functions during a day. This review integrates the current knowledge about the autonomic regulation of inflammatory responses and provide therapeutic implications for inflammatory diseases.