Control of adaptive immune responses by adrenergic nerves

Abstract

It has long been suggested that various aspects of the immune system are controlled by the nervous system. However, how the inputs from the nervous system are converted into the outputs from the immune system had been largely unclear. Studies in the last decade revealed the cellular and molecular basis by which inputs from the autonomic nervous system control the functions of immune cells. We recently discovered that adrenergic nerves control trafficking of lymphocytes through lymph nodes and consequently generate a diurnal rhythm in the adaptive immune response. This review focuses on the mechanism and physiological relevance of adrenergic nerve-mediated control of adaptive immune responses.