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The nervous system and innate immunity: the neuropeptide connection

Nature Immunology volume 6, pages 558–564 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Many neuropeptides and peptide hormones are very similar to antimicrobial peptides in their amino acid composition, amphipathic design, cationic charge and size. Their antimicrobial activities suggest they may also be directly involved in innate defense. Here we discuss recent advances in understanding how the mammalian nervous system, equipped with neuropeptides and peptide hormones with potent antimicrobial properties, might directly defend the host from microbial assault. As examples, we have chosen five well described, locally produced neuropeptides that may serve a previously unrecognized, direct antimicrobial, innate immune function in four anatomical sites.

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Figure 1: NK1-induced antimicrobial peptide activity in the gingival sulcus of the oral cavity.
Figure 2: NPY-producing cells in the olfactory system.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Marti for preparation of the figures. Supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (1 R01 DE014390-01A2), National Institutes of Health (K.A.B.) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ministére de la Recherche et des Technologies, National Institutes of Health–Forgarty, Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale and Génopole-Lille (M.S.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Periodontics and Dows Institute for Dental Research, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, 52252, Iowa, USA

    Kim A Brogden & Janet M Guthmiller

  2. Laboratoire de Neuroimmunologie des Annelides, UMR 8017 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IFR 118, Universitedes et Technologies de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, 59650, France

    Michel Salzet

  3. School of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, 20057, DC, USA

    Michael Zasloff

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Correspondence to Kim A Brogden.

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Brogden, K., Guthmiller, J., Salzet, M. et al. The nervous system and innate immunity: the neuropeptide connection. Nat Immunol 6, 558–564 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1209

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