Mens sana in corpore sano - and vice versa - The role of the autonomic nervous system in the immune-neuroendocrine dialogue

Adrenergic and cholinergic transmitters of the autonomic nervous system hav e important roles in the mutual interrelationships between the brain and th e immune system. Besides expressing functional adrenergic and cholinergic r eceptors, lymphocytes and other immune cells were found to synthesize and r elease catecholamines and acetylcholine pointing to a possible role of thes e mediators in the intrinsic regulation of the immune system. In this revie w we will summarize concepts of Psychoneuroimmunology on the basis of data as obtained in vitro and in experimental studies in animal models, and disc uss their relevance to human clinical medicine.