NEUROPEPTIDES, INTESTINAL IMMUNOLOGICAL INTEGRITY AND INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

Although many aspects of immunoregulation are exerted through mechanis ms that are autonomous to the immune system, it is established that co mplex and potent regulatory interactions link the nervous and immune s ystems in intact animals. The intestinal mucosa is a highly integrated organ which contains specialized subdivisions of both the nervous and immune systems and is expected, therefore, to be a specialized venue for neural-immune interactions. A principal means for this interaction is through the ability of lymphoid cells of the mucosa to recognize a nd respond to neuropeptide signals, such as the vasoactive intestinal peptide and substance P, released from local nerves. This report exami nes mechanisms by which neurophysiological regulation of the local act ivity and local accumulation of lymphoid cells can occur in the intest inal mucosa, and explores the pathophysiological implications of the p ronounced disruptions of local nerves that occur in the mucosa of pati ents with IBD.