Mens sana in corpore sano--and vice versa. The role of the autonomic nervous system in the immune-neuroendocrine dialogue.
Adrenergic and cholinergic transmitters of the autonomic nervous system have important roles in the mutual interrelationships between the brain and the immune system. Besides expressing functional adrenergic and cholinergic receptors, lymphocytes and other immune cells were found to synthesize and release catecholamines and acetylcholine pointing to a possible role of these mediators in the intrinsic regulation of the immune system. In this review we will summarize concepts of Psychoneuroimmunology on the basis of data as obtained in vitro and in experimental studies in animal models, and discuss their relevance to human clinical medicine.
Schauenstein
K
K
Department of Pathophysiology, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 31A, A-8010 Graz, Austria. konrad.schauenstein@kfunigraz.ac.at
Rinner
I
I
Felsner
P
P
Stevenson
R
R
Haas
H
H
Liebmann
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000502:physiology*; D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology