Journal Article

Central regulation of stress-evoked peripheral immune responses

Swirski, Filip K, Chan, Kenny L, Poller, Wolfram C, Russo, Scott J

2023

Overview

Stress-linked psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and major depressive disorder, are associated with systemic inflammation. Recent studies have reported stress-induced alterations in haematopoiesis that result in monocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia and, consequently, in the upregulation of pro-inflammatory processes in immunologically relevant peripheral tissues. There is now evidence that this peripheral inflammation contributes to the development of psychiatric symptoms as well as to common co-morbidities of psychiatric disorders such as metabolic syndrome and immunosuppression. Here, we review the specific brain and spinal regions, and the neuronal populations within them, that respond to stress and transmit signals to peripheral tissues via the autonomic nervous system or neuroendocrine pathways to influence immunological function. We comprehensively summarize studies that have employed retrograde tracing to define neurocircuits linking the brain to the bone marrow, spleen, gut, adipose tissue and liver. Moreover, we highlight studies that have used chemogenetic or optogenetic manipulation or intracerebroventricular administration of peptide hormones to control somatic immune responses. Collectively, this growing body of literature illustrates potential mechanisms through which stress signals are conveyed from the CNS to immune cells to regulate stress-relevant behaviours and comorbid pathophysiology.Stress modulates immune system function and systemic inflammation is linked to stress-related disorders, including depression. Russo and colleagues outline the neural circuits through which the CNS regulates immune cell function in peripheral tissues in response to stress and consider how these responses contribute to stress-related pathophysiology.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Adipose tissue / Autonomic nervous system / Central nervous system / Hemopoiesis / Immune response / Immunosuppression / Inflammation / Intracerebroventricular administration / Lymphopenia / Mental disorders / Metabolic syndrome / Monocytosis / Neural networks / Neutrophilia / Pathophysiology / Peptide hormones