[Stress related immune regulation]

Abstract

The immune system ist capable of producing factors, which apart from playing a crucial role during the immune response, serve to integrate immune-neuroendocrine circuits with immunoregulatory and metabolic consequences for the organism. Hormones and neuropeptides on the other hand exert direct effects on immune cells via specific surface receptors on such cells. Therefore, there is strong evidence for a bidirectional communication between the immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems mediated by peptide hormones and receptors common to these systems. One element of the immune system's response to stress factors may involve the activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and other neuroendocrine circuits. A complex network of neuroendocrine immune systems is able to sustain biologic adaptation and homeostasis in response to stresses and needs to be taken into account in every clinical context of stress responses.