• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.146-154
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• 1996

The impact of stress on immune function is known to be associated with the interactions among the central nervous system(CNS), neuroendocrine system, and immune system. The main pathways between stress and immune system are wiring of lymphoid organs and neuroendocrine system. Immune system also produces neuropeptides, which modulate immune system. Mediators of psychosocial influences on immune function are found to be peptides released by the pituitry, hormones, md autonomic nervous system. Hypothalamus integrates endocrine, neural and immune systems. Particularly, paraventricular nucleus appears to play a central role in this integration. On the other hand, endocrine system receives feedback from the immune system. The major regulatory pathways which pituitary modulates include the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-thymic(HPAT) axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-thymic(HPGT) axis, pineal-hypothalamic-pituitary(PHP) axis. Bidirectional pathways such as feedforward and feedback pathways are suggested in the interaction between stress and immune system. It suggests that psychosocial inputs affect immune function, but also that immunological inputs affect psychosocial function. Thus, prospective studies for elucidating the relationship between stress and immune function should incorporate measures of immune function as well as measures of endocrine, autonomic, and brain activities at the same time.