Bidirectional communication between the pineal gland and the immune system

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 342-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystyna Skwarlo-Sonta ◽  
Pawel Majewski ◽  
Magdalena Markowska ◽  
Ruslan Oblap ◽  
Bozenna Olszanska
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Pineal Gland ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Melatonin Receptors ◽  
Organ Specificity ◽  
Melatonin Receptor ◽  
Bidirectional Communication ◽  
Pineal Function ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
And Function

The pineal gland is a vertebrate neuroendocrine organ converting environmental photoperiodic information into a biochemical message (melatonin) that subsequently regulates the activity of numerous target tissues after its release into the bloodstream. A phylogenetically conserved feature is increased melatonin synthesis during darkness, even though there are differences between mammals and birds in the regulation of rhythmic pinealocyte function. Membrane-bound melatonin receptors are found in many peripheral organs, including lymphoid glands and immune cells, from which melatonin receptor genes have been characterized and cloned. The expression of melatonin receptor genes within the immune system shows species and organ specificity. The pineal gland, via the rhythmical synthesis and release of melatonin, influences the development and function of the immune system, although the postreceptor signal transduction system is poorly understood. Circulating messages produced by activated immune cells are recipro cally perceived by the pineal gland and provide feedback for the regulation of pineal function. The pineal gland and the immune system are, therefore, reciprocally linked by bidirectional communication.Key words: pineal gland, melatonin, immunity, melatonin receptors, melatonin receptor transcripts.

scholarly journals Fc-gamma receptors and S100A8/A9 cause bone erosion during rheumatoid arthritis. Do they act as partners in crime?

Rheumatology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1331-1343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Di Ceglie ◽  
Nik N L Kruisbergen ◽  
Martijn H J van den Bosch ◽  
Peter L E M van Lent
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Bone Erosion ◽  
Fcγ Receptor ◽  
Receptor Signalling ◽  
Radiographic Disease ◽  
Osteoclast Function ◽  
And Function

AbstractBone erosion is one of the central hallmarks of RA and is caused by excessive differentiation and activation of osteoclasts. Presence of autoantibodies in seropositive arthritis is associated with radiographic disease progression. ICs, formed by autoantibodies and their antigens, activate Fcγ-receptor signalling in immune cells, and as such stimulate inflammation-mediated bone erosion. Interestingly, ICs can also directly activate osteoclasts by binding to FcγRs on their surface. Next to autoantibodies, high levels of alarmins, among which is S100A8/A9, are typical for RA and they can further activate the immune system but also directly promote osteoclast function. Therefore, IC-activated FcγRs and S100A8/A9 might act as partners in crime to stimulate inflammation and osteoclasts differentiation and function, thereby stimulating bone erosion. This review discusses the separate roles of ICs, FcγRs and alarmins in bone erosion and sheds new light on the possible interplay between them, which could fuel bone erosion.

Reproductive phase dependent variation in lung-associated immune system (LAIS) and expression of melatonin receptors (Mel1a and Mel1b) in the lung of the Jungle-Bush Quail (Perdicula asiatica)

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Kharwar ◽  
C. Haldar
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Melatonin Receptors ◽  
Melatonin Receptor ◽  
Reproductive Phase ◽  
Inactive Phase ◽  
Avian Lung ◽  
Circulatory Level ◽  
Reproductive Phases

The present study was performed to assess the variation of the lung-associated immune system (LAIS) in the Jungle-Bush Quail ( Perdicula asiatica (Latham, 1790)) during two different reproductive phases when differences in the circulatory level of hormones (melatonin and gonadal steroid) and environmental conditions were maximum. We noted high significant variation in size and number of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) nodules, as well as in the size and number of non-BALT nodules, during the reproductively inactive phase (RIP; December) compared with the active phase (RAP; June). We also noted high significant variation in the percent stimulation ratio of lung lymphocyte, as well as in the concentrations of plasma melatonin and melatonin receptors, during RIP compared with RAP. Testosterone level and number of macrophages in lungs were high during RAP. Thus, we suggest that the LAIS had reproductive phase dependent variation, which could be due to (i) variation in environmental factors (photoperiod, temperature, and humidity) and (ii) circulatory level of hormones (melatonin and testosterone). Because of the importance of melatonin in avian immune regulation, we assess and document the expression of melatonin receptor types Mel1a and Mel1b in the avian lung, which suggest that the lung is a target organ for melatonin and that melatonin is an immunomodulator for lung-associated immunity in birds.

scholarly journals Osteoimmunology: Interactions of the Bone and Immune System

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Lorenzo ◽  
Mark Horowitz ◽  
Yongwon Choi
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Bone Cells ◽  
The Other ◽  
Organ Systems ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
The Many ◽  
And Function ◽  
Broad Overview

Abstract Bone and the immune system are both complex tissues that respectively regulate the skeleton and the body’s response to invading pathogens. It has now become clear that these organ systems often interact in their function. This is particularly true for the development of immune cells in the bone marrow and for the function of bone cells in health and disease. Because these two disciplines developed independently, investigators in each don’t always fully appreciate the significance that the other system has on the function of the tissue they are studying. This review is meant to provide a broad overview of the many ways that bone and immune cells interact so that a better understanding of the role that each plays in the development and function of the other can develop. It is hoped that an appreciation of the interactions of these two organ systems will lead to better therapeutics for diseases that affect either or both.

scholarly journals Immunometabolism at the Nexus of Cancer Therapeutic Efficacy and Resistance

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Traba ◽  
Michael N. Sack ◽  
Thomas A. Waldmann ◽  
Olga M. Anton
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Immune Surveillance ◽  
Antitumor Effects ◽  
Cancer Management ◽  
Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
And Function ◽  
Main Effects

Constitutive activity of the immune surveillance system detects and kills cancerous cells, although many cancers have developed strategies to avoid detection and to resist their destruction. Cancer immunotherapy entails the manipulation of components of the endogenous immune system as targeted approaches to control and destroy cancer cells. Since one of the major limitations for the antitumor activity of immune cells is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), boosting the immune system to overcome the inhibition provided by the TME is a critical component of oncotherapeutics. In this article, we discuss the main effects of the TME on the metabolism and function of immune cells, and review emerging strategies to potentiate immune cell metabolism to promote antitumor effects either as monotherapeutics or in combination with conventional chemotherapy to optimize cancer management.

scholarly journals A Novel Regulatory Player in the Innate Immune System: Long Non-Coding RNAs

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 9535
Author(s):  
Yuhuai Xie ◽  
Yuanyuan Wei
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Innate Immune System ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Innate Immune Cells ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Development And Differentiation ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
And Function

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent crucial transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulators during antimicrobial responses in the host innate immune system. Studies have shown that lncRNAs are expressed in a highly tissue- and cell-specific- manner and are involved in the differentiation and function of innate immune cells, as well as inflammatory and antiviral processes, through versatile molecular mechanisms. These lncRNAs function via the interactions with DNA, RNA, or protein in either cis or trans pattern, relying on their specific sequences or their transcriptions and processing. The dysregulation of lncRNA function is associated with various human non-infectious diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus. Here, we provide an overview of the regulation and mechanisms of lncRNA function in the development and differentiation of innate immune cells, and during the activation or repression of innate immune responses. These elucidations might be beneficial for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting inflammatory and innate immune-mediated diseases.

Microbiota-immune interactions: from gut to brain

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloisa Salvo-Romero ◽  
Patricia Stokes ◽  
Mélanie G. Gareau
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Immune System Development ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain

The vast diversity of bacteria that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract strongly influence host physiology, not only nutrient metabolism but also immune system development and function. The complexity of the microbiota is matched by the complexity of the host immune system, where they have coevolved to maintain homeostasis ensuring the mutualistic host-microbial relationship. Numerous studies in recent years investigating the gut-brain axis have demonstrated an important role for the gut microbiota in modulating brain development and function, with the immune system serving as an important coordinator of these interactions. Gut bacteria can modulate not only gut-resident immune cells but also brain-resident immune cells. Activation of the immune system in the gut and in the brain are implicated in responses to neuroinflammation, brain injury, as well as changes in neurogenesis and plasticity. Impairments in this bidirectional communication are implicated in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diseases and disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, or comorbidities associated with Gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, where dysbiosis is commonly seen. Consequently, probiotics, or beneficial microbes, are being recognized as promising therapeutic targets to modulate behavior and brain development by modulating the gut microbiota. Here we review the role of microbiota-immune interactions in the gut and the brain during homeostasis and disease and their impact on gut-brain communication, brain function, and behavior as well as the use of probiotics in central nervous system alterations. Statement of novelty: The microbiota-gut-brain axis is increasingly recognized as an important physiological pathway for maintaining health and impacting the brain and central nervous system. Increasing evidence suggests that the immune system is crucial for gut-brain signaling. In this review, we highlight the critical studies in the literature that identify the key immune pathways involved.

scholarly journals Phytotherapeutic antioxidants

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tulika Mishra ◽  
Ananda Kumar Kondepati ◽  
Shalini Devaprasad Pasumarthi ◽  
Gurmit Singh Chilana ◽  
Suresh Devabhaktuni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Radicals ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Cardiovascular Disorder ◽  
Medicinal Value ◽  
Health Related ◽  
And Function ◽  
Relationship Of

Plants have always been an integrated part of human life, whether we discuss about providing food or we about their medicinal value. Ethnomedicines have led to the discovery of many valuable drugs against various diseases. It has been postulated that most of the disease are related to immune system which is affected by imbalance balance between antioxidants and prooxidants or free radicals. Free radicals are the chemical entities capable of independent existence that contain one/more unpaired electrons and can be balanced by antioxidants. Antioxidants maintain the integrity and function of membrane lipids, cellular proteins, and nucleic acids and the control of signal transduction of gene expression in immune cells. For this reason, the immune cells are particularly sensitive to changes in their antioxidant status. Whenever there is imbalance between prooxidant and antioxidants they can lead to many diseases and even ameliorate the severity of disease like Alzheimer, cardiovascular disorder, cancer etc. There are evidences showing usage of plants as a potent source of antioxidants has provided a lot of support in combating various diseases, without any side effect. Various Bioflavonoids, Carotenoids, Hydroxycinnamates etc helps in scavenging the free radicals and thus proved to be immunostimulant. There are various mechanisms through which these Phyto antioxidants assisted against various disease. The present review is an attempt showing the relationship of free radicals with various diseases and immune system and the role of Phyto antioxidants against various health related conditions.

Fetal Grafting for Parkinson's Disease: Expression of Immune Markers in Two Patients with Functional Fetal Nigral Implants

1997 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey H. Kordower ◽  
Scot Styren ◽  
Martha Clarke ◽  
Stephen T. Dekosky ◽  
C. Warren Olanow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Trophic Factors ◽  
Immune Markers ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Hla Dr ◽  
And Function

In a number of centers throughout the world, fetal nigral transplantation is being performed for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Clinical results have been inconsistent. One parameter that differs among transplant studies is the degree and manner by which patients are immunosuppressed following transplantation. Indeed, the role of the immune system following fetal grafting in humans is not well understood. Recently, two patients from our open label trial that received fetal nigral implants have come to autopsy. These patients were immunosuppressed with cyclosporin for 6 mo posttransplantation and survived for a total of 18 mo postgrafting. Robust survival of grafted dopamine-containing cells was observed in both cases. Immunostaining for HLA-DR revealed a dense collection of cells within grafts from both cases. HLA-DR staining was rarely observed within the host including non-grafted regions of the striatum. A more detailed analysis of immune markers was performed in Case 2. Numerous pan macrophages, T-cells, and B-cells were observed within graft sites located in the postcommissural putamen. In contrast, staining for these immune cells was not observed within the ungrafted anterior putamen. These findings suggest that even in healthy appearing functional nigral implants, grafts are invaded by host immune cells that could compromise their long-term viability and function. Alternatively, immune cells are known to secrete trophic factors, which may ultimately favor graft survival and function. Further work is needed to understand the role of the immune system in fetal grafting.

scholarly journals Endoglin: An ‘Accessory’ Receptor Regulating Blood Cell Development and Inflammation

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 9247
Author(s):  
Steffen K. Meurer ◽  
Ralf Weiskirchen
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Vascular Lesions ◽  
Type I ◽  
And Function ◽  
Tgf Β1

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic factor sensed by most cells. It regulates a broad spectrum of cellular responses including hematopoiesis. In order to process TGF-β1-responses in time and space in an appropriate manner, there is a tight regulation of its signaling at diverse steps. The downstream signaling is mediated by type I and type II receptors and modulated by the ‘accessory’ receptor Endoglin also termed cluster of differentiation 105 (CD105). Endoglin was initially identified on pre-B leukemia cells but has received most attention due to its high expression on activated endothelial cells. In turn, Endoglin has been figured out as the causative factor for diseases associated with vascular dysfunction like hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia-1 (HHT-1), pre-eclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUPR). Because HHT patients often show signs of inflammation at vascular lesions, and loss of Endoglin in the myeloid lineage leads to spontaneous inflammation, it is speculated that Endoglin impacts inflammatory processes. In line, Endoglin is expressed on progenitor/precursor cells during hematopoiesis as well as on mature, differentiated cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. However, so far only pro-monocytes and macrophages have been in the focus of research, although Endoglin has been identified in many other immune system cell subsets. These findings imply a functional role of Endoglin in the maturation and function of immune cells. Aside the functional relevance of Endoglin in endothelial cells, CD105 is differentially expressed during hematopoiesis, arguing for a role of this receptor in the development of individual cell lineages. In addition, Endoglin expression is present on mature immune cells of the innate (i.e., macrophages and mast cells) and the adaptive (i.e., T-cells) immune system, further suggesting Endoglin as a factor that shapes immune responses. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on Endoglin expression and function in hematopoietic precursors and mature hematopoietic cells of different lineages.

The Immune System as a Sensory System

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 98-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven F. Maier ◽  
Linda R. Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Sensory System ◽  
Sense Organ ◽  
Sensory Channel ◽  
Bidirectional Communication ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Mood And Cognition ◽  
The Brain

The brain and immune system form a bidirectional communication network in which the immune system operates as a sense organ to provide the brain with information about infection and injury, thereby allowing the brain to coordinate a defense. Activated immune cells release proteins called cytokines, which signal the brain by both blood and neural routes. Information that reaches the brain across this sensory channel produces large changes in neural activity, behavior, mood, and cognitive functioning. Appreciation of the functioning of this network may illuminate poorly understood aspects of stress, depression, and intraindividual variability in behavior, mood, and cognition.

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