Cited by 1,064Vagus Nerve Stimulation ResearchStress Responses and CortisolCancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response

Neural regulation of innate immunity: a coordinated nonspecific host response to pathogens

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Sternberg, Esther M.·2006·Nature Reviews Immunology

Abstract

The central nervous system (CNS) regulates innate immune responses through hormonal and neuronal routes. The neuroendocrine stress response and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems generally inhibit innate immune responses at systemic and regional levels, whereas the peripheral nervous system tends to amplify local innate immune responses. These systems work together to first activate and amplify local inflammatory responses that contain or eliminate invading pathogens, and subsequently to terminate inflammation and restore host homeostasis. Here, I review these regulatory mechanisms and discuss the evidence indicating that the CNS can be considered as integral to acute-phase inflammatory responses to pathogens as the innate immune system.

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  • The brain plays a critical role in appraising stressors and in modulating immune system reactivity to physical and social threat.

    “the brain plays a critical role in appraising stressors, as well as in modulating immune system reactivity to physical and social threat”

    From From stress to inflammation and major depressive disorder: A social signal transduction theory of depression. (2014) · cites this paper as Sternberg, 2006

    The Abstract says the CNS regulates innate immune responses and describes physical and psychological stimuli activating a brain-mediated stress response that regulates immunity. It does not describe the brain appraising stressors or specifically address immune reactivity to social threat. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Although these regions do not directly regulate inflammatory activity, they have anatomical connections to lower level brain regions, including the hypothalamus and brainstem autonomic control nuclei, which influence systemic inflammation by modulating the activity of the HPA axis and SNS.

    “Although these regions do not directly regulate inflammatory activity, they have anatomical connections to lower level brain regions, including the hypothalamus and brainstem autonomic control nuclei, which influence systemic inflammation by modulating the activity of the HPA axis and SNS”

    From From stress to inflammation and major depressive disorder: A social signal transduction theory of depression. (2014) · cites this paper as Sternberg, 2006

    Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

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  • The parasympathetic nervous system modulates immune responses at a regional level through efferent and afferent fibers of the vagus nerve, enabling it to prevent excessive inflammation.

    “Additional evidence suggests that the parasympathetic nervous system modulates immune responses at a regional level through both the efferent and afferent fibers of the vagus nerve, enabling it to prevent excessive inflammation”
  • Glucocorticoids regulate monocyte behavior through modulation of multiple signaling pathways.

    “Glucocorticoids regulate monocyte behavior through modulation of multiple signaling pathways (22), so a thorough evaluation of the resistance hypothesis requires a model system that fully captures these dynamics in vivo.”
  • Vagal activity can modulate immune responses regionally through efferent and afferent fibers to prevent excessive inflammation.

    “with evidence that vagal activity can modulate immune responses at a regional level through both the efferent and afferent fibers of the vagus nerve, to prevent excessive inflammation”

    From Sleep health: Reciprocal regulation of sleep and innate immunity (2017) · cites this paper as Sternberg, 2006

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Authors
Sternberg, E. M.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Sternberg, Esther M.
Venue
Nature Reviews Immunology
Published
2006-04
Volume
6
Issue
4
Pages
318-328
ISSN
  • 1474-1733 (ISSN-L)
  • 1474-1741
OpenAlex
W2067949717
Cited by
1,064
References
145
Citations by year
2026: 31 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 72 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 62 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 66 · 2015: 46 · 2014: 51 · 2013: 64 · 2012: 74
FWCI
5.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (Z01MH002585)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Cancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response
Keywords
central nervous system, neuroimmune interactions, neuroendocrine stress response, sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, peripheral nervous system, pro-inflammatory response, inflammation resolution, host homeostasis, pathogen defense, toxic shock syndrome
MeSH terms
Animals, Central Nervous System, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Immunity, Innate, Models, Biological, Nervous System, Neuropeptides, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Peripheral Nervous System, Models, Immunological

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