Definition
This term refers to the interdisciplinary field merging neurology, immunology, and aspects of neuroscience. It is a scientific and clinical domain. Scientifically, neuroimmunology tries to understand the bidirectional links between the nervous and immune systems and their implications to illnesses. Clinically, various “classical” neuroimmune diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis – MS) and recently more diseases are being recognized as being influenced by both the nervous and immune systems, including cancer and coronary heart disease. The biological underpinnings of neuroimmunology include the descending pathways from the brain to the immune system, manifested by innervation of lymph nodes, effects of stress hormones on immunity, and the presence of neurotransmitter receptors on immune cells (Dantzer et al. 2000). In parallel, ascending pathways include the vagus nerve, expressing receptors for interleukin-1, brain regions lacking the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and a...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References and Further Readings
Compston, A., & Coles, A. (2002). Multiple sclerosis. The Lancet, 359, 1221–1231.
Dantzer, R., Konsman, J. P., Bluthé, R. M., & Kelley, K. W. (2000). Neural and humoral pathways of communication from the immune system to the brain: Parallel or convergent? Autonomic Neuroscience, 85, 60–65.
Gidron, Y., Perry, H., & Glennie, M. (2005). The Vagus may inform the brain about sub-clinical tumours and modulate them: An hypothesis. The Lancet Oncology, 6, 245–248.
Gidron, Y., Kupper, N., Kwaijtaal, M., Winter, J., & Denollet, J. (2007). Vagus-brain communication in atherosclerosis-related inflammation: A neuroimmunomodulation perspective of CAD. Atherosclerosis, 195, e1–e9.
Gidron, Y., De Couck, M., Van Laethem, J. L., Schallier, D., De Greve, J., Mareshall, R. (2016). Paper to be presented at the PCS 2nd International Lung Cancer Symposium, Budapest.
Schwartz, M., & Moalem, G. (2001). Beneficial immune activity after CNS injury: Prospects for vaccination. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 113, 185–192.
Tracey, K. J. (2009). Reflex control of immunity. Nature Reviews Immunology, 9, 418–428.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Gidron, Y. (2020). Neuroimmunology. In: Gellman, M.D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39903-0_1601
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39903-0_1601
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-39901-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-39903-0
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine