Approaches Mediating Oxytocin Regulation of the Immune System

Abstract

The hypothalamic neuroendocrine system is mainly composed of the neural structures regulating hormone secretion from the pituitary gland and has been considered as the higher regulatory center of the immune system. Recently, the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS) emerged as an important component of neuroendocrine–immune network, wherein the oxytocin (OT)-secreting system (OSS) plays an essential role. The OSS, consisting of OT neurons in the supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, their several accessory nuclei and associated structures, can integrate neural, endocrine, metabolic, and immune information and plays a pivotal role in the development and functions of the immune system. The OSS can promote the development of thymus and bone marrow, perform immune surveillance, strengthen immune defense, and maintain immune homeostasis. Correspondingly, OT can inhibit inflammation, exert antibiotic-like effect, promote wound healing and regeneration, and suppress stress-associated immune disorders. In this process, the OSS can release OT to act on immune system directly by activating OT receptors or through modulating activities of other hypothalamic–pituitary–immune axes and autonomic nervous system indirectly. However, our understandings of the role of the OSS in neuroendocrine regulation of immune system are largely incomplete, particularly its relationship with other hypothalamic–pituitary–immune axes and the vasopressin-secreting system that coexists with the OSS in the HNS. In addition, it remains unclear about the relationship between the OSS and peripherally produced OT in immune regulation, particularly intrathymic OT that is known to elicit central immunological self-tolerance of T-cells to hypophysial hormones. In this work, we provide a brief review of current knowledge of the features of OSS regulation of the immune system and of potential approaches that mediate OSS coordination of the activities of entire neuroendocrine–immune network.

What is resilience: an affiliative neuroscience approach

“…Finally, oxytocin plays an important role in functionality of the immune system . Human studies show associations between oxytocin and immune biomarkers 78,79 . In cell culture, oxytocin reduces oxidative stress and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) secretion from stimulated macrophages 80 .…”

How do hypothalamic nonapeptides shape youth’s sociality? A systematic review on oxytocin, vasopressin and human socio-emotional development

“…Indeed, the observation of several deficits relevant to human neurodevelopmental disorders in OT genes using animal knockouts support the hypothesis of links between the OT-system and the pathogenesis of social deficits (125,126), characteristic of disorders such as ASD. However, cumulative evidence over the last years has been supporting the notion that OT may be an important higher regulator of the immune function, both in the CNS (through microglia activity regulation (127)) and in the body's periphery (promoting thymus and bone marrow development, that strengthens immune defence and maintains immune homeostasis) (128,129). Thus, we should not exclude that general physiological responses of the OT system to disease may cause variations of its levels in bodily fluids that may not necessarily be related to socio-affective impairment (but instead reflect other aspects of OT's physiology).…”

Oxytocin receptor agonist reduces perinatal brain damage by targeting microglia

“…This hormone is also involved in the function of GABA neurons, in autistic-like behavior in adulthood (Romano, Tempesta, Micioni Di Bonaventura, & Gaetani, 2015;Tyzio et al, 2014), and in social neuroprotection after cerebral ischemia (Karelina et al, 2011). Finally, OXT has peripheral and central antiinflammatory effects in adult (Li, Wang, Wang, & Wang, 2016;Yuan et al, 2016), but little is known about its impact on the developing brain.…”