Psychoneuroimmunology

2012 ◽  
pp. 205-211
Author(s):  
Robert Dantzer ◽  
Keith W. Kelley
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
New Information ◽  
Disciplinary Field ◽  
Expression Of Emotions ◽  
Psychological Events ◽  
The Brain

Mind-body literature, in the form of magazines and self-help books on stress and healing, is full of definitive claims for the existence of powerful influences of emotions and psychosocial stressors on the immune system, leading to onset or progression of cancers or infectious diseases. This literature often makes explicit reference to research in psychoneuroimmunology to support these claims. Psychoneuroimmunology is a multi-disciplinary field that has grown rapidly during the last three decades at the crossroads of immunology, behavioural neurosciences, neuroendocrinology, and psychology. It studies mechanisms and functional aspects of bidirectional relationships between the brain and the immune system. Although still controversial, there is evidence that psychological events including emotions can and do influence the outcome of infectious, autoimmune, and neoplastic diseases via modulation of cells of the immune system. A surprising finding has been that immune events occurring in the periphery also affect mood, behaviour, and metabolism by modulating brain functions, thereby providing a biologically important link between the immune system and brain. The original discovery that activation of the innate immune system in the periphery causes clinical signs of sickness that are processed in the brain is now being extended to the involvement of the immune system in depressive disorders. This new information has solidified the idea that neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, neural pathways, and immune-derived signals such as cytokines are the minimal essential elements that permit the immune system and brain to communicate with one another. These new data offer the unexpected conclusion that the immune system is likely to be involved in not only how emotions affect health but also how immune events regulate the development and expression of emotions.

scholarly journals Pathways of neuro-immune communication: past and present time, clinical application

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-418
Author(s):  
E. A. Korneva
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Sympathetic Nerves ◽  
The Body ◽  
Autonomic Nerves ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Pulsed Ultrasound ◽  
The Brain

Fundamental studies in neuroimmunophysiology are the keystone for development of new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of infectious, allergic, oncologic and autoimmune diseases. The achievements in this field allowed approving new treatment methods based on irritation of afferent and efferent fibers of autonomic nerves. That became possible due to numerous studies of pathways between the immune and nervous systems performed over last two decades. The milestones in the history of neuroimmune communication research are represented here. The immune system organs – bone marrow, thymus and spleen are coupled to central nervous system (CNS) via sympathetic nerves. Information about LPS and bacteria emergence in peritoneum, intestine and parenchymal organs reaches the brain via parasympathetic pathways. After vagotomy, the brain neurons do not respond to this kind of antigens. The pattern of brain responses to different applied antigens (the EEG changes and the quantity of c-Fos-positive neurons) is specific for definite antigen, like as algorithms of electroneurogram after exposure to different cytokines. Activation of parasympathetic nerves causes the inhibition of inflammation. The entry of any antigens into the body initiates production of cytokines (IL-1, TNFα, IL-6, IFNγ etc.), via specific receptors which are present on peripheral neurons and terminals of vagus nerve, i.e. the vagal afferent terminals and neurons respond to cytokine action, and these signals are transmitted to CNS neurons. The afferent vagal fibers end on the dorsal vagal complex neurons in the caudal part of medulla oblongata. The information about bacterial antigens, LPS and inflammation is transmitted to the brain via afferent autonomic neural pathways. The speed of this process is high and significantly depends on the rates of cytokine production that are transmitters of signals upon the antigen exposure. It is important to emphasize that this events occur within minutes, and the response to the received information proceeds by reflex mechanisms, i.e., within fraction of a second, as exemplified by inflammation (“inflammation reflex”). This is a fundamentally new and revolutionary discovery in the functional studies of immune system regulation. Clinical efficiency of n. vagus stimulation by pulsed ultrasound was shown, being used for the treatment of inflammatory, allergic and autoimmune diseases, e.g., multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, renal inflammatory diseases. Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve reduces the death of animals in septic shock by 80%. The mentioned data have made a revolution in understanding the functional arrangement of immune system in the body. A hypothesis is represented, which suggests how the information on the antigen exposure is transmitted to the brain.

RABIES ORAL IMMUNIZATION AGAINST RABIES

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-184
Author(s):  
Khalid A. Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Limbic System ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
West Germany ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Oral Vaccination ◽  
Stray Dogs ◽  
Rabies Control ◽  
The Brain

Rabies is a highly fatal infection of the central nervous system which occur in all warm-blooded animals and transmitted by the bites of affected animals. The major manifestations of the disease include motor irritation and clinical signs of mania and an attack complex and ascending paralysis. Rabies and rabies related viruses belong to a group of more than 75 viruses called RHABDOVIRUSES (Rhabdo=rod) because of their bullet-shaped morphology. The virus is fragile, easily inactivated by disinfectants, and does not exist free in the environment. Instead, in the course of its infection in reservoir host species, it is shed into the saliva and is transmitted by bite. After entry into a new host in the bite site, rabies virus multiplies in muscle cells and aggregates around the proprio receptor nerve endings of their acetylcholine receptors and then spreads through neural pathways, all without stimulating an effective host immune response. Transmission depends on simultaneous delivery of virus to the salivary glands and the limbic system of the brain. Infection of the limbic system of the brain is the cause of the fury which drives the animal to bite. Infection of the salivary glands is the source of the large amounts of virus in saliva. This unique pathogenetic patterns leads to entrenchment of the virus in its reservoir host populations and to continuing risk of exposure of man. Dog rabies has been controlled globally by the use of potent vaccines and the application of effective urban control programs (poisoning trapping shooting). The problem that then remained has been wildlife rabies, primarily in wolves, foxes, skunks, raccoons as well as stray dogs. Therefore, a new approach to wildlife rabies control has been made which involves oral vaccination. Several successful trials were attempted in Switzerland, West Germany and the U.S.S.R. Rabies control efforts in the developing countries did little to really reduce the incidence of the disease. Therefore, mass vaccination of dogs and the elimination of strays coupled with the oral vaccination (recombinant vaccinia vaccine) of dogs so that the population of susceptible stray dogs can be immunized. 

scholarly journals Understanding psychosis: treatment and rehabilitation (updates for clinicians)

2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-121
Author(s):  
Gayane Kirakosyan ◽  
Alina Frolova
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Gradual Increase ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Comprehensive Treatment ◽  
Hunger Strike ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain

Psychosis is a group of psychotic disorders. Its manifestation depends on the specific type of functional violation. However, this is characterized by a gradual increase in clinical signs and a change in behavior. Symptoms of psychosis can be recognized by the following manifestations: hallucinations, delusional ideas, movement disorders, mood disorders including manic and depressive disorders and changes in emotional sphere. Psychosis occurs due to problems in the functioning of neurons. Due to the violation of bonds in the molecules, they do not receive nutrition and they are deficient in oxygen. This leads to the fact that neurons cannot transmit nerve impulses; multiple dysfunctions occur in the central nervous system. The type of psychosis depends on a part of the brain suffered from the hunger strike. The causes of this disorder are of 3 types: endogenous, associated with internal processes, exogenous or external and organic, when the causes of psychosis are changes in the brain such as tumors, trauma or hemorrhage. Psychosis is usually treated in a hospital setting. Such patients require urgent admission as they cannot control their actions, they can harm themselves and others. Psychosis is a relapse-prone disease. With timely and comprehensive treatment, the prognosis will be favorable. This review article is a good educational material for medical and psychological practitioners whose goal is to improve knowledge of treatment and rehabilitation processes of psychosis and its related disorders.

Chronic immobilization stress induces anxiety-related behaviors and affects brain essential minerals in male rats

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Zafer Sahin ◽  
Alpaslan Ozkurkculer ◽  
Omer Faruk Kalkan ◽  
Ahmet Ozkaya ◽  
Aynur Koc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immobilization Stress ◽  
Central Area ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
Swimming Test ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Center Area ◽  
Chronic Immobilization Stress

Abstract. Alterations of essential elements in the brain are associated with the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. It is known that chronic/overwhelming stress may cause some anxiety and/or depression. We aimed to investigate the effects of two different chronic immobilization stress protocols on anxiety-related behaviors and brain minerals. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups as follows ( n = 10/group): control, immobilization stress-1 (45 minutes daily for 7-day) and immobilization stress-2 (45 minutes twice a day for 7-day). Stress-related behaviors were evaluated by open field test and forced swimming test. In the immobilization stress-1 and immobilization stress-2 groups, percentage of time spent in the central area (6.38 ± 0.41% and 6.28 ± 1.03% respectively, p < 0.05) and rearing frequency (2.75 ± 0.41 and 3.85 ± 0.46, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) were lower, latency to center area (49.11 ± 5.87 s and 44.92 ± 8.04 s, p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively), were higher than the control group (8.65 ± 0.49%, 5.37 ± 0.44 and 15.3 ± 3.32 s, respectively). In the immobilization stress-1 group, zinc (12.65 ± 0.1 ppm, p < 0.001), magnesium (170.4 ± 1.7 ppm, p < 0.005) and phosphate (2.76 ± 0.1 ppm, p < 0.05) levels were lower than the control group (13.87 ± 0.16 ppm, 179.31 ± 1.87 ppm and 3.11 ± 0.06 ppm, respectively). In the immobilization stress-2 group, magnesium (171.56 ± 1.87 ppm, p < 0.05), phosphate (2.44 ± 0.07 ppm, p < 0.001) levels were lower, and manganese (373.68 ± 5.76 ppb, p < 0.001) and copper (2.79 ± 0.15 ppm, p < 0.05) levels were higher than the control group (179.31 ± 1.87 ppm, 3.11 ± 0.06 ppm, 327.25 ± 8.35 ppb and 2.45 ± 0.05 ppm, respectively). Our results indicated that 7-day chronic immobilization stress increased anxiety-related behaviors in both stress groups. Zinc, magnesium, phosphate, copper and manganese levels were affected in the brain.

Potential immunotherapy for Alzheimer disease and age-related dementia

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Alzheimer Disease ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Blockade ◽  
Checkpoint Blockade ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Brain

Emerging results support the concept that Alzheimer disease (AD) and age-related dementia are affected by the ability of the immune system to contain the brain's pathology. Accordingly, well-controlled boosting, rather than suppression of systemic immunity, has been suggested as a new approach to modify disease pathology without directly targeting any of the brain's disease hallmarks. Here, we provide a short review of the mechanisms orchestrating the cross-talk between the brain and the immune system. We then discuss how immune checkpoint blockade directed against the PD-1/PD-L1 pathways could be developed as an immunotherapeutic approach to combat this disease using a regimen that will address the needs to combat AD.

Potential immunotherapy for Alzheimer disease and age-related dementia

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Alzheimer Disease ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Blockade ◽  
Checkpoint Blockade ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Brain

Emerging results support the concept that Alzheimer disease (AD) and age-related dementia are affected by the ability of the immune system to contain the brain’s pathology. Accordingly, well-controlled boosting, rather than suppression of systemic immunity, has been suggested as a new approach to modify disease pathology without directly targeting any of the brain’s disease hallmarks. Here, we provide a short review of the mechanisms orchestrating the cross-talk between the brain and the immune system. We then discuss how immune checkpoint blockade directed against the PD-1/PD-L1 pathways could be developed as an immunotherapeutic approach to combat this disease using a regimen that will address the needs to combat AD.

Current Strategies and Novel Drug Approaches for Alzheimer Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 676-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roma Ghai ◽  
Kandasamy Nagarajan ◽  
Meenakshi Arora ◽  
Parul Grover ◽  
Nazakat Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cholinergic Neurons ◽  
Amyloid Plaque ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Personality Changes ◽  
Traditional Therapies ◽  
Novel Drug ◽  
The Brain

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a chronic, devastating dysfunction of neurons in the brain leading to dementia. It mainly arises due to neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus area of the brain and is clinically manifested as a progressive mental failure, disordered cognitive functions, personality changes, reduced verbal fluency and impairment of speech. The pathology behind AD is the formation of intraneuronal fibrillary tangles, deposition of amyloid plaque and decline in choline acetyltransferase and loss of cholinergic neurons. Tragically, the disease cannot be cured, but its progression can be halted. Various cholinesterase inhibitors available in the market like Tacrine, Donepezil, Galantamine, Rivastigmine, etc. are being used to manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The paper’s objective is to throw light not only on the cellular/genetic basis of the disease, but also on the current trends and various strategies of treatment including the use of phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Enormous literature survey was conducted and published articles of PubMed, Scifinder, Google Scholar, Clinical Trials.org and Alzheimer Association reports were studied intensively to consolidate the information on the strategies available to combat Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, several strategies are being investigated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Immunotherapies targeting amyloid-beta plaques, tau protein and neural pathways are undergoing clinical trials. Moreover, antisense oligonucleotide methodologies are being approached as therapies for its management. Phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals are also gaining attention in overcoming the symptoms related to AD. The present review article concludes that novel and traditional therapies simultaneously promise future hope for AD treatment.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Intravenous Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome) against Coccidioidal Meningitis in Rabbits

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 2420-2426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl V. Clemons ◽  
Raymond A. Sobel ◽  
Paul L. Williams ◽  
Demosthenes Pappagianis ◽  
David A. Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Liposomal Amphotericin ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Liposomal Amphotericin B ◽  
Coccidioides Immitis ◽  
Lower Protein ◽  
Motor Abnormalities ◽  
The Brain

ABSTRACT The efficacy of intravenously administered liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome [AmBi]) for the treatment of experimental coccidioidal meningitis was compared with those of oral fluconazole (FLC) and intravenously administered conventional amphotericin B (AMB). Male New Zealand White rabbits were infected by intracisternal inoculation of arthroconidia of Coccidioides immitis. Starting 5 days postinfection, animals received one of the following: 5% dextrose water diluent; AMB given at 1 mg/kg of body weight; AmBi given at 7.5, 15, or 22.5 mg/kg intravenously three times per week for 3 weeks; or oral FLC given at 80 mg/kg for 19 days. One week after the cessation of therapy, all survivors were euthanatized, the numbers of CFU remaining in the spinal cord and brain were determined, and histological analyses were performed. All AmBi-, FLC-, or AMB-treated animals survived and had prolonged lengths of survival compared with those for the controls (P < 0.0001). Treated groups had significantly lower numbers of white blood cells and significantly lower protein concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid compared with those for the controls (P < 0.01 to 0.0005) and had fewer clinical signs of infection (e.g., weight loss, elevated temperature, and neurological abnormalities including motor abnormalities). The mean histological scores for AmBi-treated rabbits were lower than those for FLC-treated and control rabbits (P < 0.016 and 0.0005, respectively); the scores for AMB-treated animals were lower than those for the controls (P < 0.0005) but were similar to those for FLC-treated rabbits. All regimens reduced the numbers of CFU in the brain and spinal cord compared with those for the controls (P ≤0.0005). AmBi-treated animals had 3- to 11-fold lower numbers of CFU than FLC-treated rabbits and 6- to 35-fold lower numbers of CFU than AmB-treated rabbits. Three of eight animals given 15 mg of AmBi per kg had no detectable infection in either tissue, whereas other doses of AmBi or FLC cleared either the brain or the spinal cord of infection in fewer rabbits. In addition, clearance of the infection from both tissues was achieved in none of the rabbits, and neither tissue was cleared of infection in AMB-treated animals. Overall, these data indicate that intravenously administered AmBi is superior to oral FLC or intravenous AMB and that FLC is better than AMB against experimental coccidioidal meningitis. These data indicate that AmBi may offer an improvement in the treatment of coccidioidal meningitis. Additional studies are warranted.

scholarly journals L2HGDH Missense Variant in a Cat with L-2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 682
Author(s):  
Matthias Christen ◽  
Nils Janzen ◽  
Anne Fraser ◽  
Adrian C. Sewell ◽  
Vidhya Jagannathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Genetic Defect ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Missense Variant ◽  
Microcytic Anemia ◽  
Abnormal Behavior ◽  
Functional Candidate Gene ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Hydroxyglutaric Acid

A 7-month-old, spayed female, domestic longhair cat with L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA) was investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical signs, metabolic changes and underlying genetic defect. The owner of the cat reported a 4-month history of multiple paroxysmal seizure-like episodes, characterized by running around the house, often in circles, with abnormal behavior, bumping into obstacles, salivating and often urinating. The episodes were followed by a period of disorientation and inappetence. Neurological examination revealed an absent bilateral menace response. Routine blood work revealed mild microcytic anemia but biochemistry, ammonia, lactate and pre- and post-prandial bile acids were unremarkable. MRI of the brain identified multifocal, bilaterally symmetrical and T2-weighted hyperintensities within the prosencephalon, mesencephalon and metencephalon, primarily affecting the grey matter. Urinary organic acids identified highly increased levels of L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid. The cat was treated with the anticonvulsants levetiracetam and phenobarbitone and has been seizure-free for 16 months. We sequenced the genome of the affected cat and compared the data to 48 control genomes. L2HGDH, coding for L-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase, was investigated as the top functional candidate gene. This search revealed a single private protein-changing variant in the affected cat. The identified homozygous variant, XM_023255678.1:c.1301A>G, is predicted to result in an amino acid change in the L2HGDH protein, XP_023111446.1:p.His434Arg. The available clinical and biochemical data together with current knowledge about L2HGDH variants and their functional impact in humans and dogs allow us to classify the p.His434Arg variant as a causative variant for the observed neurological signs in this cat.

scholarly journals Targeting the CCL2-CCR2 axis in depressive disorders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Curzytek ◽  
Monika Leśkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Receptor System ◽  
Proinflammatory Mediators ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Abnormal Brain

AbstractSince affective disorders are considered to be underlain by the immune system malfunction, an important role in their pathophysiology is assigned to the proinflammatory mediators. Recently, chemokines, the group of chemotactic cytokines, have become a focus for basic and clinical scientists in the context of the development and treatment of brain diseases. Among them, chemokine CCL2 and its main receptor CCR2 have become candidate mediators of abnormal brain-immune system dialogue in depression. Besides the chemotactic activity, the CCL2-CCR2 axis is involved in various neurobiological processes, neurogenesis, neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, as well as neuroregeneration. Given the range of immunomodulatory possibilities that the CCL2-CCR2 pair can exert on the nervous system, its proinflammatory properties were initially thought to be a major contributor to the development of depressive disorders. However, further research suggests that the malfunctions of the nervous system are rather associated with impaired homeostatic properties manifested by the CCL2-CCR2 dyad dysfunctions. This review aims to present literature data on the action of the CCL2-CCR2 axis in the central nervous system under physiological and pathological conditions, as well as the contribution of this ligand-receptor system to the processes underlying affective disorders. Additionally, this article draws attention to the importance of the CCL2-CRR2 pathway as a potential pharmacological target with antidepressant potential.

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