We see many similarities in the function of both the brain and the immune system. They both are involved in distinguishing self from non-self, protecting the body from harm, there is a large overlap in the chemicals they use for communication between the cells in each system, there are feedback loops between the two systems showing that they are constantly and intimately communicating with each other, the nosology to describe the immune system has changed over the years from just "immunology" to "psycho-neuro-immunology".
It’s been clear for decades that there is some kind of relationship between the brain and the immune system. Abnormal immune activity was reported in schizophrenia in the 1930s, and numerous mental and neurologic illnesses are known or thought to have an immune component.
recent work by Kipnis and colleagues found that an injury to the central nervous system results in a strong activation of T-cells in the deep cervical lymph nodes. Kipnis suspects that some compound may be released from the injured CNS that is transmitted to the deep cervical lymph nodes through lymphatic vessels where it activatesthe immune system.
Multiple sclerosis at least in some cases, is thought to result from autoimmune activity in response to an infection in the central nervous system and cerebrospinal fluid.
Regards
thank you Dr. Abed for your reply. i want to take this concept to it's logical end and on the way change the current paradigm of multiple sclerosis on which are based the current treatments. i wanted to get opinions from experts and hence the question on this forum. mustafa.
the most of mammals systems are related, in one way or another, to the brain. Yo can say that the most of systems are floating too.
mr. arguello. you are correct in saying that the nervous system does have influence on every organ in the body. but this is not the point i was trying to make. i am saying that the immune system is as much a part of the nervous system as the cerebellum, or the temporal lobe or the peripheral nerves. thank you, mustafa.
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