FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Nat Neurosci. 2012 Jul 26;15(8):1063-7. doi: 10.1038/nn.3144.
The peripheral nervous and immune systems are traditionally thought of as serving separate functions. The line between them is, however, becoming increasingly blurred by new insights into neurogenic inflammation. Nociceptor neurons possess many of the same molecular recognition pathways for danger as immune cells, and, in response to danger, the peripheral nervous system directly communicates with the immune system, forming an integrated protective mechanism. The dense innervation network of sensory and autonomic fibers in peripheral tissues and high speed of neural transduction allows rapid local and systemic neurogenic modulation of immunity. Peripheral neurons also seem to contribute to immune dysfunction in autoimmune and allergic diseases. Therefore, understanding the coordinated interaction of peripheral neurons with immune cells may advance therapeutic approaches to increase host defense and suppress immunopathology.
传统上认为，周围神经系统和免疫系统具有不同的功能。然而，神经原性炎症的新见解使它们之间的界限变得越来越模糊。伤害感受器神经元具有与免疫细胞相同的许多危险分子识别途径，并且，作为对危险的反应，周围神经系统直接与免疫系统通讯，形成一个集成的保护机制。外周组织中感觉和自主纤维的密集神经支配网络和神经转导的高速允许快速的局部和全身神经原性免疫调节。外周神经元似乎也有助于自身免疫和过敏疾病中的免疫功能障碍。因此，了解周围神经元与免疫细胞的协调相互作用可能会促进治疗方法的发展，以增强宿主防御和抑制免疫病理。
