title: Reciprocal interactions between the neuroendocrine and immune systems during inflammation.
abstract: The neuroendocrine and immune responses to inflammatory stress represent important integrated physiologic circuits for the regulation of inflammation whose basis has been reviewed. Proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 beta, TNF alpha, and IL-6 released from inflammatory foci initiate a local inflammatory response and travel by way of the blood-stream to the central nervous system, where they trigger a variety of neuroendocrine counterregulatory mechanisms. There is an important NEI loop. Stimulatory signals are received by the neural systems from inflammatory foci and are transduced by the hypothalamus, thereby initiating a complex hormonal and cytokine cascade of reactions aimed at modulating inflammation and returning the organism to normal physiologic homeostasis once the trigger has been neutralized. Conversely, a number of mechanisms that modulate the anti-inflammatory activity of the neuroendocrine responses to inflammation are also activated. Defects in the neuroendocrine-immune interactions can profoundly affect the susceptibility to developing chronic inflammatory disease and influencing survival after bacterial infections. The NEI loop has important pathophysiologic implications for disease processes.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Joint Research Unit, St Bartholomews and Royal London Hospital School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, United Kingdom. i.c.chikanza@mds.qmw.ac.uk
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chikanza
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines