The ability of the nervous system to sense environmental stimuli and to relay these signals to immune cells via neurotransmitters and neuropeptides is indispensable for effective immunity and tissue homeostasis. Depending on the tissue microenvironment and distinct drivers of a certain immune response, the same neuronal populations and neuro-mediators can exert opposing effects, promoting or inhibiting tissue immunity. Here, we review the current understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the complex interactions between the immune and the nervous systems in different tissues and contexts. We outline current gaps in knowledge and argue for the importance of considering infectious and inflammatory disease within a conceptual framework that integrates neuro-immune circuits both local and systemic, so as to better understand effective immunity to develop improved approaches to treat inflammation and disease.

神经系统感知环境刺激并通过神经递质和神经肽将这些信号传递给免疫细胞的能力对于有效的免疫和组织稳态是必不可少的。根据组织微环境和某种免疫反应的不同驱动因素，相同的神经元群和神经介质可以发挥相反的作用，促进或抑制组织免疫。在这里，我们回顾了目前对不同组织和环境中免疫系统和神经系统之间复杂相互作用机制的理解。我们概述了当前的知识差距，并主张在整合局部和全身神经免疫回路的概念框架内考虑传染病和炎症性疾病的重要性，以便更好地了解有效的免疫，从而开发治疗炎症和疾病的改进方法。