Contemporary Topics in Neuroimmunomodulation.
The investigational subject of immunophysiology (neuroimmunomodulation, psychoneurophysiology) is known to be the studies of interactions between nervous and immune systems in normal and pathological conditions on different structural levels of interactions between these systems. It has been shown that expression of genes of immediate (c-fos) and rapid (IL-2) reactions in response to stimuli of non-immune nature occurs not only in lymphoid cells, but also in certain structures of central nervous system. In addition, there are many facts, demonstrating the elevation of IL-1 production by cells of monocyte-macrophage system and the expression of IL-1 genes in brain after action of irritants of different origin. The IL-1 level is revealed to be increased after action of different stress factors that can be predictable. The studies are started having concern with rather new and extremely important aspect of immunophysiology, that is the studies of cytokine expression in brain and its role in brain function. Now it is already clear that practically all the spectrum of cytokines is present in brain and many of them, including IL-1 and IL-2, are expressed not only on glial cells, but on neurons. Partly cytokine involvement is shown during the development of regulatory processes. For example, IL-1 and IL-2 stimulate production of corticotropin releasing and lutein stimulating factors. It is possible to suggest that this line of studies would be highly perspective either for immunology, or for physiology of XXI century.
Korneva
Elena A.
EA
Institute of Experimental Medicine of RAMS, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.