Neuroendocrine-immune interactions: impact of gender, negative energetic balance condition, and developmental stage on the mechanisms of the acute phase response of the inflammatory process in mammals

Abstract

The discovery of a negative feedback loop between the immune system and the brain (Besedovsky et al. 1986; Fauci 1979; Sapolsky et al. 1987) is one of the most exciting advances in the field of neuroendocrine-immunology. Immune cells can be stimulated by microorganism-derived toxins to secrete cytokines (Dinarello and Mier 1987). In turn, cytokines may induce many host responses associated with endotoxemia (Michalek et al. 1980), characterized by fever, stress hormone release, mineral redistribution, and increased acute phase protein synthesis (Dinarello 1988). The proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1 (Girardin et al. 1988), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) a (Michie et al. 1988) have been proposed to be the most important mediators for the development of the above-mentioned pathophysiological responses.