Special article / Article spécial

Neuroimmune mechanisms in health and disease: 1. Health

Hymie Anisman, PhD; Malcolm G. Baines, PhD; Istvan Berczi, DVM, PhD; Charles N. Bernstein, MD, FRCPC; Michael G. Blennerhassett, PhD; Reginald M. Gorczynski, MD, PhD; Arnold H. Greenberg, MD, PhD; Fred T. Kisil, PhD; Ronald D. Mathison, PhD; Eva Nagy, MD; Dwight M. Nance, PhD; Mary H. Perdue, PhD; David K. Pomerantz, PhD; Edris R. Sabbadini, MD, PhD; Andrzej Stanisz, PhD; Richard J. Warrington, MD, BS, PhD, FRCPC

Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 155: 867-874

[résumé]

Dr. Anisman is with the Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ont.; Dr. Baines is with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Que.; Dr. Berczi is with the Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Dr. Bernstein is with the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Dr. Blennerhassett is with the Department of Pathology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dr. Gorczynski is with the Department of Surgery and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Dr. Greenberg is director of the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, Winnipeg, Man.; Dr. Kisil is with the Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Dr. Mathison is with the Department of Medical Physiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Dr. Nagy is with the Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Dr. Nance is with the Department of Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Dr. Perdue is with the Intestinal Disease Research Unit, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; Dr. Pomerantz is with the Department of Physiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ont.; Dr. Sabbadini is with the Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Dr. Stanisz is with the Department of Pathology and the Intestinal Disease Research Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont.; and Dr. Warrington is with the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.

The second part of this article has been published in the Oct. 15, 1996, issue of CMAJ [abstract / résumé].

Paper reprints may be obtained from: Dr. Istvan Berczi, Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, 795 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg MB R3E 0W3; fax 204 772-7924; berczi@bldghsc.lan1.umanitoba.ca

The full text may also be ordered from the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI) or Ovid Technologies.

Abstract

A novel scientific discipline that examines the complex interdependence of the neural, endocrine and immune systems in health and disease has emerged in recent years. In health, the neuroimmunoregulatory network is fundamental to host defence and to the transfer of immunity to offspring; the network also plays important roles in intestinal physiology and in tissue regeneration, healing and reproduction. The proliferation of lymphocytes in primary lymphoid organs (bone marrow, bursa of Fabricius [in birds] and thymus) and in secondary lymphoid organs (spleen, lymph nodes and mucosal lymphoid tissue) depends on prolactin and growth hormone. These hormones allow immune cells to respond to antigen and to soluble mediators, called cytokines. Immune-derived cytokines are capable of inducing fever and of altering neurotransmitter activity in the brain and hormone secretion by the pituitary gland. The activation of the hypothalamus pituitaryadrenal axis by cytokines leads to immunosuppression. Lymphoid organs are innervated, and tissue mast cells respond to neurologic stimuli. In general, acetylcholine and substance P exert immunostimulatory and proinflammatory effects, whereas epinephrine and somatostatin are immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory. In this article, the authors predict that novel approaches to immunomodulation will be possible by altering the level or efficacy of immunoregulatory hormones and neurotransmitters.

Résumé

Une nouvelle discipline scientifique qui porte sur l'interdépendance complexe entre les systèmes neuronal, endocrinien et immunitaire dans le domaine de la santé et des maladies a fait son apparition depuis quelques années. Dans le domaine de la santé, le réseau neuroimmunorégulateur est essentiel au mécanisme de défense de l'hôte et au transfert de l'immunité aux descendants. Le réseau joue aussi des rôles importants dans la physiologie intestinale et la régénération des tissus, la guérison et la reproduction. La prolifération des lymphocytes dans les organes lymphoïdes primaires (moelle osseuse, bourse de Fabricius [chez les oiseaux] et thymus) et secondaires (rate, ganglions lymphatiques et tissu lymphoïde des muqueuses) dépend de la prolactine et de l'hormone de croissance. Ces hormones permettent aux cellules immunitaires de réagir aux antigènes et aux médiateurs solubles, appelés cytokines. Les cytokines immunodérivées peuvent provoquer la fièvre et modifier l'activité des neurotransmetteurs dans le cerveau, ainsi que la sécrétion d'hormones par l'hypophyse. L'activation de l'axe hypothalamushypophysesurrénales par les cytokines provoque l'immunosuppression. Les organes lymphoïdes sont innervés et les mastocytes tissulaires réagissent aux stimulus neurologiques. En général, l'acétylcholine et la substance P ont des effets immunostimulateurs et proinflammatoires tandis que l'épinéphrine et la somatostatine sont des agents immunosuppresseurs et anti-inflammatoires. Dans cet article, les auteurs prédisent que l'on pourrait mettre au point des stratégies nouvelles d'immunomodulation en modifiant le taux ou l'efficacité des hormones immunorégulatrices et des neurotransmetteurs.

| CMAJ October 1, 1996 (vol 155, no 7) / JAMC le 1er octobre 1996 (vol 155, no 7) |