INTERACTIONS OF THE NERVOUS AND IMMUNE-SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPMENT, NORMALBRAIN HOMEOSTASIS, AND DISEASE

Neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, neurotrophins, and neuroendocrine ho rmones have traditionally been assigned functions in normal developmen t and homeostasis of neuronal networks; cytokines and adhesion molecul es have been assigned functions within the peripheral immune system. M olecular dissection of the presence and function of these receptors an d ligands during development of the immune and nervous systems, in nor mal healthy adult central and peripheral nervous tissue, and in the pa thological response of immune elements in the brain and neuroelements in the immune system has forced us to alter these long-held concepts. Examples of how glia and neurons function in relationship to these par acrine and autocrine stimuli in health and disease are provided in thi s short review.