title: Neural regulation of gastrointestinal inflammation: role of the sympathetic nervous system.
abstract: The sympathetic innervation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract regulates motility, secretion and blood flow by inhibiting the activity of the enteric nervous system (ENS) and direct vasoconstrictor innervation of the gut microvasculature. In addition to these well-established roles, there is evidence that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) can modulate GI inflammation. Postganglionic sympathetic neurons innervate lymphoid tissues and immune cells within the GI tract. Furthermore, innate and adaptive immune cells express receptors for sympathetic neurotransmitters. Activation of these receptors can affect a variety of important immune cell functions, including cytokine release and differentiation of helper T lymphocyte subsets. This review will consider the neuroanatomical evidence of GI immune cell innervation by sympathetic axons, the effects of blocking or enhancing SNS activity on GI inflammation, and the converse modulation of sympathetic neuroanatomy and function by GI inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cervi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lukewich
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit and Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: lomaxa@queensu.ca.
authors.forename: Alan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lomax
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Gastrointestinal tract; Neuroimmunology; Sympathetic nervous system