Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Preliminary results indicate that TLRs are likely to be involved in inflammation
and in physiological regulation as well. TLRs may play a role in neuropathic pain,
Alzheimer's disease, other inflammatory conditions in the brain, spinal cord injury,
and multiple sclerosis.
Adaptive immune responses are sensed by the brain via cytokine feedback signals.
The CNS exerts a regulatory influence either through innervation or by hormones
and other soluble mediators, such as catecholamines, acetylcholine, tachykinins,
somatostatin, galanin, cytokines, and chemokines.
Mast cells are innervated and are regulated by sensory neuropeptides (e.g., tachy-
kinins, somatostatin, galanin). Here the CNS is informed by mediators released
by mast cells after the mast cells are activated by antigen via their membrane-
bound antibodies (IgE and IgG). These antibodies recognize about 10
11
epitopes.
Bradykinin and complement components C3a and C5a signal the brain via mast
cells. Malfunctions of the sensory nerve mast cell regulatory pathway may cause
allergy, asthma, arthritis, airway inflammation, and migraine headache.
The acute phase response is an emergency defense reaction mediated by the rapid
stimulation of NATIM. APR is initiated by IL-1, -6, TNF- and CSF. When hypo-
thalamic CRH and VP activate the HPA axis, GC and CATs then amplify NATIM
and stimulate Tsrs, which have the characteristics of innate immune cells. GLHs are
decreased, the thymus becomes atrophic, and ADIM suppressed by Tsrs.
It is now clear that the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems form a neuroim-
mune supersystem, which is characterized by continuous interaction and mutual
reliance on each other and which coordinates and regulates all physiological and
pathological events in higher organisms for their entire lifetime
[3]
.
References
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7. Nishimura M, Naito S. Tissue-specific mRNA expression profiles of human toll-like recep-
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brain during murine neurocysticercosis. J Neuroimmunol 2006;181(1-2):46-56.
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