Neuroendocrine-immunology is defined as the study of interactions among the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Nervous, immune and endocrine systems control biochemical, functional and physiological activities in the organism during both homeostasis, such as early development and aging, and in pathological conditions, including neurological, infectious, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. The similarities between nervous, immune and endocrine systems are remarkable, including receptors to interface with other systems, complex levels of interactions throughout the organism and intricate regulatory mechanisms. The neuro-endocrine-immune interactions perform a cross-talk to each other through bidirectional circuits, characterized by highly specialized signalling molecules, namely neurotransmitters, cytokines/chemokines and hormones.
Common neuroendocrine axes comprise the hypothalamus-pituitary gland and corresponding target organs, as for example the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, the hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis, the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, the hypothalamus–neurohypophyseal (HN) axis, the hypothalamus-pituitary-liver (HPL) axis, the hypothalamus-pituitary-prolactin (HPP) axis and the hypothalamus-pituitary-growth hormone (HPGH) axis.
Among the immune circuits, cytokines/chemokines are distinguished by their immunomodulatory actions on neuroendocrine circuits. Cytokines regulate endocrine responses such as by stimulating the HPA axis and adipose tissue or suppressing the HPT, HPG and HPP axes. In contrast, disruption of neuroendocrine circuits can lead to alterations in many critical aspects of immunity - such as thymus-derived T cell development and function and interactions between lymphocytes and micro-environmental cells in thymus, spleen and lymph nodes. Due to the high diversity of interactions between neuroendocrine and immune circuits, the imbalance of these components of neuro-immune-endocrine system leads to development and/or exacerbation of several diseases.
With this Research Topic we welcome investigators to submit original research articles as well as review articles that aim to increase our knowledge about neuroendocrine-immunology in conditions of homeostasis and disease, as well as the potential effects of diverse therapeutics agents on these circuits.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
i) Cross-talk between the neuroendocrine and immune systems in health and disease;
ii) Effects of immunomodulatory agents on hormone production; and
iii) Effects of therapeutic agents on neuroendocrine and/or immune circuits in health and disease.
Neuroendocrine-immunology is defined as the study of interactions among the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Nervous, immune and endocrine systems control biochemical, functional and physiological activities in the organism during both homeostasis, such as early development and aging, and in pathological conditions, including neurological, infectious, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. The similarities between nervous, immune and endocrine systems are remarkable, including receptors to interface with other systems, complex levels of interactions throughout the organism and intricate regulatory mechanisms. The neuro-endocrine-immune interactions perform a cross-talk to each other through bidirectional circuits, characterized by highly specialized signalling molecules, namely neurotransmitters, cytokines/chemokines and hormones.
Common neuroendocrine axes comprise the hypothalamus-pituitary gland and corresponding target organs, as for example the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, the hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis, the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis, the hypothalamus–neurohypophyseal (HN) axis, the hypothalamus-pituitary-liver (HPL) axis, the hypothalamus-pituitary-prolactin (HPP) axis and the hypothalamus-pituitary-growth hormone (HPGH) axis.
Among the immune circuits, cytokines/chemokines are distinguished by their immunomodulatory actions on neuroendocrine circuits. Cytokines regulate endocrine responses such as by stimulating the HPA axis and adipose tissue or suppressing the HPT, HPG and HPP axes. In contrast, disruption of neuroendocrine circuits can lead to alterations in many critical aspects of immunity - such as thymus-derived T cell development and function and interactions between lymphocytes and micro-environmental cells in thymus, spleen and lymph nodes. Due to the high diversity of interactions between neuroendocrine and immune circuits, the imbalance of these components of neuro-immune-endocrine system leads to development and/or exacerbation of several diseases.
With this Research Topic we welcome investigators to submit original research articles as well as review articles that aim to increase our knowledge about neuroendocrine-immunology in conditions of homeostasis and disease, as well as the potential effects of diverse therapeutics agents on these circuits.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
i) Cross-talk between the neuroendocrine and immune systems in health and disease;
ii) Effects of immunomodulatory agents on hormone production; and
iii) Effects of therapeutic agents on neuroendocrine and/or immune circuits in health and disease.
