Control of lymphocyte trafficking by adrenergic neurons: mechanisms and clinical implications

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 neurons control trafficking of lymphocytes through lymph nodes. This mechanism was found to generate a diurnal rhythm in adaptive immune responses and regulate inflammatory responses in peripheral tissues. In this review, I discuss the molecular mechanism, physiological significance, and clinical relevance of adrenergic neuron-mediated control of lymphocyte trafficking.