title: Impact of the neuroendocrine system on thymus and bone marrow function.
abstract: The nervous, endocrine, and immune systems interact to adapt to infection, inflammation, and tissue injury. Neural control is mediated in several ways, one of them being through the neuroendocrine regulation of the secretion of hypothalamic and pituitary hormones. The hormonal effects on the immune system range from the impact of steroidal hormones, which exhibit inhibitory effects over immune functions, to growth hormone, prolactin and neurohypophyseal hormones, known to stimulate and modulate humoral and cellular aspects of the immune system. This review will discuss the mechanisms behind the immunomodulatory role of the neuroendocrine system, including the critically important feedback loops required to maintain balance for these bidirectional interactions and alterations that occur with age.
authors.affiliation: Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Layton
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hince
authors.forename: Samy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakkal
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chidgey
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology*; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology; D006728:Hormones / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000276:immunology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones