Neuroimmunologic influences in neuropsychiatric and psychophysiologic disorders

Top down central nervous system (CNS) influences on the immune system and b ottom up immune system influences on the CNS take part in a complex feedfor ward and feedback loop which may be responsible for initiating events and p erpetuating circumstances in the course of neuropsychiatric as well as immu ne system diseases. In this paper the authors examine the neuroendocrine-ne uroimmune stress response system, the concept of autoimmunoregulation, and recent studies of immune and pharmacological dysregulation in neuropsychiat ric and psychosomatic illnesses. The authors review the recent English-lang uage literature on these subjects. Support for the hypothesis that macropha ges play an important role in neurodevelopment and in the pathophysiology o f various neuropsychiatric conditions is found. The interplay between neuro logic and immune systems may help to uncover the pathophysiologies of certa in neuropsychiatric systems. This may provide new strategies for pharmacolo gic anti-inflammatory treatments. The monocyte/macrophage, which crosses th e blood-brain barrier is an essential candidate cell in the study of psycho neuroimmunology.