The peripheral neuroimmune system.

Abstract

Historically, the nervous and immune systems were studied as separate entities. The nervous system relays signals between the body and the brain by processing sensory inputs and executing motor outputs, whereas the immune system provides protection against injury and infection through inflammation. However, recent developments have demonstrated that these systems mount tightly integrated responses. In particular, the peripheral nervous system acts in concert with the immune system to control reflexes that maintain and restore homeostasis. Notwithstanding their homeostatic mechanisms, dysregulation of these neuroimmune interactions may underlie various pathological conditions. Understanding how these two distinct systems communicate is an emerging field of peripheral neuroimmunology that promises to reveal new insights into tissue physiology and identify novel targets to treat disease.