Dynamic Interactions Between the Immune System and the Neuroendocrine System in Health and Disease. 2021

John R Klein
Department of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.

The immune system and the neuroendocrine system share many common features. Both consist of diverse components consisting of receptors and networks that are widely distributed throughout the body, and both sense and react to external stimuli which, on the one hand control mechanisms of immunity, and on the other hand control and regulate growth, development, and metabolism. It is thus not surprising, therefore, that the immune system and the neuroendocrine system communicate extensively. This article will focus on bi-directional immune-endocrine interactions with particular emphasis on the hormones of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. New findings will be discussed demonstrating the direct process through which the immune system-derived thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) controls thyroid hormone synthesis and bone metamorphosis, particularly in the context of a novel splice variant of TSHβ made by peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL). Also presented are the ways whereby the TSHβ splice variant may be a contributing factor in the development and/or perpetuation of autoimmune thyroid disease (AIT), and how systemic infection may elicit immune-endocrine responses. The relationship between non-HPT hormones, in particular adipose hormones, and immunity is discussed.

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
D007154 Immune System Diseases Disorders caused by abnormal or absent immunologic mechanisms, whether humoral, cell-mediated, or both. Immune Disorders,Immune System Disorders,Immunologic Diseases,Diseases of Immune System,Immune Diseases,Immunological Diseases,Disease, Immune,Disease, Immune System,Disease, Immunologic,Disease, Immunological,Disorder, Immune System,Immune Disease,Immune Disorder,Immune System Disease,Immune System Disorder,Immunologic Disease,Immunological Disease
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
D006728 Hormones Chemical substances having a specific regulatory effect on the activity of a certain organ or organs. The term was originally applied to substances secreted by various ENDOCRINE GLANDS and transported in the bloodstream to the target organs. It is sometimes extended to include those substances that are not produced by the endocrine glands but that have similar effects. Hormone,Hormone Receptor Agonists,Agonists, Hormone Receptor,Receptor Agonists, Hormone
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
D018358 Neuroendocrine Tumors Tumors whose cells possess secretory granules and originate from the neuroectoderm, i.e., the cells of the ectoblast or epiblast that program the neuroendocrine system. Common properties across most neuroendocrine tumors include ectopic hormone production (often via APUD CELLS), the presence of tumor-associated antigens, and isozyme composition. Neuroendocrine Tumor,Tumor, Neuroendocrine,Tumors, Neuroendocrine

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