Receptor-mediated interaction between the sympathetic nervous system and immune system in inflammation

The sympathetic nervous system plays a central role in establishing communi cation between the central nervous system and the immune system during infl ammation. Inflammation activates the sympathetic nervous system, which caus es release of the transmitters of the sympathetic nervous system in the per iphery. The transmitters of the sympathetic nervous system are the catechol amines noradrenaline and adrenaline and the purines ATP, adenosine, and ino sine. Once these transmitters are released, they stimulate both presynaptic receptors on nerve terminals and post-synaptic receptors on immune cells. The receptors that are sensitive to catecholamines are termed adrenoceptors . whereas the receptors that bind purines are called purinoceptors. Stimula tion of the presynaptic receptors exerts an autoregulatory effect on the re lease of transmitters. Ligation of the postsynaptic receptors on inflammato ry cells modulates the inflammatory activities of these cells. The present review summarizes some of the most important aspects of the current state o f knowledge about the interactions between the sympathetic nervous system a nd the immune system during inflammation with a special emphasis on the rol e of adreno and purinoceptors.