The dialogue between the brain and immune system involves not only the HPA-axis

Journal/Book: Z Rheumatol 1999; 58: 300. 1999;

Abstract: K. Schauenstein; Institut für Allgemeine und Exp. Pathologie Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz The physiological relevance of the brain - immune system axis was first evidenced by data of Besedovsky et al. showing that the activation of the HPA axis during an immune response against a given antigen is critically involved in the suppression of irrelevant lymphocyte clones thereby possibly preventing "unwanted" immune reactions. Along this line our own earlier data showed for the first time in an animal model that the spontaneous development of an autoimmune disease is related to a blunted response of the HPA axis to immunological stimuli. Later on these findings have been confirmed in other animal models and there is good evidence that the same is true also in human autoimmune diseases. Our present work is devoted to define the role of the adrenergic and cholinergic autonomous nervous systems in brain - immune system interactions. Using RT-PCR techniques the cells of different immune compartments were found to express the genes of a defined set of adrenergic/cholinergic receptors and it was shown that lymphocytes are a site of non-neuronal production of norepinephrine and acetylcholine. Furthermore using implantable retard tablets containing adrenergic or cholinergic agonists distinct and partly opposite effects were observed on peripheral immune functions. Concerning the brain - immune system feedback it was found that an enhanced cholinergic tonus interferes with the glucocorticoid response to immunization and that a primary immune response to antigen is associated with changes in cholinergic receptors in the hippocampus. From these data and from a large body of literature it is concluded that the dialogue with the immune system involves the structures of the limbic system and cortical areas. ... le

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