Biomaterial Database

Dialogue between the brain and the immune system in inflammatory arthritis. 2006

Dimitrios Vassilopoulos, and Dimosthenis Mantzoukis

Academic Department of Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens University School of Medicine, 115 27 Athens, Greece. dvassilop@med.uoa.gr

The crosstalk between the brain and the immune system in inflammatory arthritis is exerted mainly through the activation or downregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG), and the hypothalamic-autonomic nervous system (HANS) axes. In this review, we will present an overview of the most recent data regarding the regulation of these complex pathways of neuroendocrine response during the different phases of inflammatory arthritides such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, the effect of the most recently available biologic therapies like anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a) on the neuroendocrine function in patients with RA will be reviewed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007107	Immune System	The body's defense mechanism against foreign organisms or substances and deviant native cells. It includes the humoral immune response and the cell-mediated response and consists of a complex of interrelated cellular, molecular, and genetic components.	Immune Systems,System, Immune,Systems, Immune
D009490	Neurosecretory Systems	A system of NEURONS that has the specialized function to produce and secrete HORMONES, and that constitutes, in whole or in part, an ENDOCRINE SYSTEM or organ.	Neuroendocrine System,Neuroendocrine Systems,Neurosecretory System,System, Neuroendocrine,System, Neurosecretory,Systems, Neuroendocrine,Systems, Neurosecretory
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001172	Arthritis, Rheumatoid	A chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.	Rheumatoid Arthritis
D015213	Neuroimmunomodulation	The biochemical and electrophysiological interactions between the NERVOUS SYSTEM and IMMUNE SYSTEM.	Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway,Neuro-immune Axis,Neuro-immune Communication,Neuro-immune Interactions,Neuro-immunomodulation,Neuroimmune Axis,Neuroimmune Communication,Neuroimmune Interactions,Neuroimmune Processes,Vagal Anti-inflammatory Pathway,Vagal-immune Interactions,Neuroimmune Mechanisms,Neuroimmune Process,Anti-inflammatory Pathway, Cholinergic,Anti-inflammatory Pathway, Vagal,Cholinergic Anti inflammatory Pathway,Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathways,Communication, Neuro-immune,Communication, Neuroimmune,Interaction, Neuro-immune,Interaction, Neuroimmune,Mechanism, Neuroimmune,Neuro immune Axis,Neuro immune Communication,Neuro immune Interactions,Neuro immunomodulation,Neuro-immune Communications,Neuro-immune Interaction,Neuroimmune Communications,Neuroimmune Interaction,Neuroimmune Mechanism,Process, Neuroimmune,Vagal Anti inflammatory Pathway,Vagal Anti-inflammatory Pathways,Vagal immune Interactions,Vagal-immune Interaction