Integration of neuro-endocrine immune responses in defense of mucosal surfaces

Neuro-endocrine immunology, a field arising from curiosity about the mind-b ody connection, is evolving rapidly. From intriguing, but seemingly unexpla inable observations with human infections and disease, experimental systems have been developed that provide a solid scientific basis for new understa nding. There have been major efforts to understand influences of the nervou s system on immune and inflammatory responses, e.g., innervation of the imm une system, molecular communication pathways, and complex phenomena such as conditioning of immune responses and mechanisms of host defenses. In turn, the immune system communicates with the neuro-endocrine systems. Imbalance s in the neuro-endocrine-immunologic circuitry are relevant in host defense s and in injury and repair. Examples of these themes in neuro-endocrine-imm unology arise in several host-parasite models of neurogenic inflammation, i mmediate hypersensitivity responses, and granuloma formation. The hypothala mic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the cervical sympathetic trunk-submandibular gland axis provide important models to enhance understanding of this poorl y known component of the host-parasite relationship.