Sympathetic nervous system interaction with the immune system

Publisher Summary Both T cells and B cells express the β 2 -adrenergic receptor (AR) and bind norepinephrine that is released within lymphoid organs. Norepinephrine plays a role in modulating the activity of CD 4 + T cells and B cells participating in an immune response against antigen. This role of norepinephrine in regulating T and B cell activity needs to be fully understood because antibodies preserve well-being by defending against bacteria, viruses, and allergens and cytokines provide help to B cells, allowing the B cell to differentiate and thus secrete antibodies of particular isotypes. Given the importance to the host of having T cells and B cells that function optimally, it is likely that the mechanisms regulating and modulating these functions are varied and interrelated. For example, it is necessary to understand how products released from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, at the same time norepinephrine is released by sympathetic nerve terminals within lymphoid organs, affect immune cell function. An understanding of the mechanism by which the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) modulates the level of cytokines and antibody produced enables the development of therapeutic approaches for treating and preventing changes in the immunocompetent state of persons experiencing any disease that involves an alteration in either the nervous or the immune system function.