Cellular Organization of Neuroimmune Interactions in the Gastrointestinal Tract.
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the largest immune organ; in vertebrates, it is the only organ whose function is controlled by its own intrinsic enteric nervous system (ENS), but it is additionally regulated by extrinsic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) innervation. The GI nervous and immune systems are highly integrated in their common goal, which is to unite digestive functions with protection from ingested environmental threats. This review discusses the physiological relevance of enteric neuroimmune integration by summarizing the current knowledge of evolutionary and developmental pathways, cellular organization, and molecular mechanisms of neuroimmune interactions in health and disease.
Department of Pediatrics, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
Kara Gross
KG
Margolis
Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
Michael David
MD
Gershon
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA. Electronic address: mbogunvich@mhc.psu.edu.
Milena
M
Bogunovic
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology* / Q000294:innervation; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D009420:Nervous System; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation