Aspects of the immune system that impact brain function

Abstract

The conditions required for effective immune responses, are outlined. Endocrine and environmental factors that can lead to persistent elevation of inflammatory responses are described. Aging can play a role in facilitating such disproportionate activity. The nervous system is especially vulnerable to prolonged immune events. In addition of being a target for inflammation associated with neurodegenerative disease, the nervous system is also impacted by systemic immune disturbances. Various means allow immune information to access the CNS. Some possible reasons underlying the common occurrence of hyperreactivity of the immune system are considered, together with a few potential ways of addressing this issue.

Analysis of networks in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in chronic schizophrenia: Relevance of altered immune response

“…The immune response involves major histocompatibility complex class II antigen presentation (MHC-complex class II). This process is essential in the adaptative immune response ( Bondy, 2020 ). The MHC class II molecule is assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum, transported to the Golgi apparatus and subsequently carried by the endocytic pathway to late endosomes and lysosomes where the MHC class II complexes are loaded with peptides from antigens and sent to the cell surface ( Hiltbold and Roche, 2002 ).…”

“…The immune response involves major histocompatibility complex class II antigen presentation (MHC-complex class II). This process is essential in the adaptative immune response (Bondy, 2020). The MHC class II molecule is assembled in the Enrichment analyses from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex proteome in chronic schizophrenia.…”

COVID-19 and corticosteroids: a narrative review

“…Corticosteroids are indicated in the management of different pathological conditions including: Allergic diseases: asthma, contact dermatitis, angioedema, allergic rhinitis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (Filaretova et al 2006 ). Endocrine diseases: Addison disease, acute adrenal insufficiency, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (Bondy 2020 ) Gastrointestinal disorders: ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease, and autoimmune hepatitis (Filaretova et al 2005 ). Hematological diseases: lymphoma, leukemia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenia (Malpica and Moll 2020 ).…”

“…Endocrine diseases: Addison disease, acute adrenal insufficiency, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (Bondy 2020 )…”

Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Brain Protection: Focus on Oxytocin

“…Microglia, the resident macrophages of the brain and spinal cord, represent the key defense of the innate immune system. Microglia belong to the glial system of non-neuronal cells, which support and protects neuronal functions, including synaptic pruning and the phagocytosis of cellular debris [41,42]. Microglia derive from progenitors that begin in the yolk sac [43,44] and later proliferate and modify the developing CNS [45].…”