Influence of Brain and Behavior on the Immune System

Abstract

It has been shown experimentally that psychosocial processes influence the susceptibility to some infections, to some neoplastic processes, and to some aspects of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. These psychosocial effects may be related to hypothalamic activity. Reviewing the mechanisms that may be involved in the role of the hypothalamus in immune responses indicates that there is no single mediating factor. Various processes may participate, including the autonomic nervous system and neuroendocrine activity. The research reviewed has been limited primarily to a consideration of the effect of hypothalamic lesions on humoral immune responses. There is some evidence (45, 80) indicating that hypothalamic lesions also modify cell-mediated immune responses. Further research is required to evaluate the effect of the hypothalamus on cell-mediated immunity.

Anterior Hypothalamic Lesions Inhibit Antigen-Induced Airway Eosinophilia in Rats

“…As for endocrine activity, it has been proposed that the effect of AHA lesions is mediated by an increase in pituitaryadrenal activity [3]. We could not obtain clear evidence suggesting this possibility in the present study.…”

“…We could not obtain clear evidence suggesting this possibility in the present study. On the other hand, the AHA has been proposed to mediate peripheral parasympathetic nervous functions [3]. If so, AHA lesions may be expected to produce an increased peripheral sympathetic nervous activity and a concomitant increase in cyclic AMP levels, which suppress the contraction of bronchial smooth muscle and the functioning of lymphocytes relevant to antibodies and cytokine production.…”

“…For instance, this area has been considered to modulate both endocrine and autonomic nervous activities [2]. In addition, it is supposed that immune functions are associated with this area [3].…”

Electroacupuncture Enhancement of Natural Killer Cell Activity Suppressed by Anterior Hypothalamic Lesions in Rats

“…A concept of neural-immune interaction indicates that perturbations of the CNS by the destruction of the hypothalamus and the limbic system induce a variety of immune alterations [2][3][4][5]. The CNS, particularly the hypothalamus, is capable of modulating the cytolytic activity of adherent natural killer (NK) cells [3][4][5][6][7]. It is well known that the NK cell activity is modified by a number of factors, from both immune and endocrine origins.…”

Role of anterior hypothalamus on asthma

“…0531 There are some reports that anterior hypothalamic lesion decreased the lethal anaphylaxis and suppressed the circulatory antibody and lymphocyte response to phytohemaggulutinin (PHA) mitogen in rats [1][2][3]. We reported previously the effect of anterior hypothalamic lesion using electrolytic method on late asthmatic response [4].…”