Systemic immune and neural microenvironment

The systemic immune and neural microenvironment represents the integrated network of signaling between the central and peripheral nervous systems and the immune system. This bidirectional communication is mediated by a variety of molecular messengers, including cytokines, neurotransmitters, and neuropeptides, which allow the brain to monitor and modulate immune activity while the immune system influences neural function (Ref: PMID: 28802038). Dysregulation of this microenvironment is a hallmark of several conditions, including chronic inflammatory diseases, neurodegeneration, and the progression of the tumor microenvironment, where neural signaling can promote or suppress anti-tumor immunity (Ref: PMID: 31534244). Because it is a systemic physiological state rather than a single protein or receptor, it is not considered a discrete therapeutic target; however, many individual components within this environment, such as cytokine receptors or adrenergic receptors, serve as specific targets for drug intervention (Ref: PMID: 32054582). Therapeutic strategies often aim to restore the balance of this axis to treat complex pathologies that span both the neurological and immunological domains.

Other names

Neuro-immune axisNeuroimmune microenvironmentSystemic neuro-immune interactionNeuro-immune interface

Modulation of bidirectional signaling between the nervous and immune systems via neurotransmitters, cytokines, and cell-trafficking inhibitors.