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The Heart as a Psychoneuroendocrine and Immunoregulatory Organ

Carlo Dal Lin1, Francesco Tona1, Elena Osto2,3

  • 1Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|July 28, 2018
PubMed

Insights

The heart acts as a central hub for nervous, endocrine, and immune signals, influencing overall body balance. This complex system integrates cardiovascular, neurological, and hormonal communication, with sex-specific variations.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Psychoneuroimmunology

Background:

  • The heart's role extends beyond mechanical pumping to encompass intricate signaling pathways.
  • Understanding the heart's integration with nervous, endocrine, and immune systems is crucial for holistic health perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the heart's function as a critical checkpoint for neuro-endocrine-immune signaling.
  • To explore the heart's independent neurological processing and its crosstalk with other systems.
  • To investigate the integrated communication between the heart and psyche via the neuro-endocrine-immune axis, considering sex-specific differences.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on cardiovascular signaling.
  • Analysis of neuro-endocrine-immune interactions involving the heart.
  • Examination of psychophysiological connections and sex-based variations.

Main Results:

  • The heart processes neurological signals autonomously, distinct from central brain control.
  • Significant crosstalk exists between the heart and endocrine and immune systems.
  • The heart plays a key role in maintaining whole-body homeostasis through integrated neuro-endocrine-immune communication.

Conclusions:

  • The heart is a sophisticated signaling hub, not merely a pump.
  • Integrated communication pathways involving the heart are vital for maintaining physiological balance.
  • Sex-specific mechanisms in cardiovascular communication warrant further investigation for personalized health approaches.

Keywords:
AlarminBeta-blockerBrain-heart axisCardiokineEmotionHeart-brain interactionImmunoregulatory functionMental stressNeuroendocrine regulationPattern recognition receptorPsychic factors in heart diseasePsychosocial stressReviewSex-specific analysisToll-like receptor

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