Strategies to evaluate metabolic stress and catabolism by means of immunological variables

In this article, we outline how metabolic stress and catabolism are set off and influenced by the neuroendocrine network that interacts intensely with the immune system. When evaluating metabolic stress in individuals, the va st ocean of mediators, cell-surface markers and intracellular components th at participate in metabolism and catabolic or anabolic changes make it nece ssary to focus on specific entities that may best mirror all these events. T cell responsiveness and factors that orchestrate the T helper type 1 and type 2 balance form an immunological mirror that can competently reflect ca tabolism and metabolic stress. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.