What is the Origin of Neuro-Endo-Immune System?

The concept evolved from the fields of neuroendocrinology and psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), which scientifically established the communication pathways between these three major control systems. It formalizes the clinical reality that psychological stress (nervous system) profoundly impacts hormonal balance (endocrine system) and susceptibility to illness (immune system). This unified view is essential for understanding complex, multi-system disorders.

What is the Mechanism of Neuro-Endo-Immune System?

Communication within the NEI System is mediated by shared ligands and receptors; for instance, stress hormones like cortisol (endocrine) can modulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (immune), while neuropeptides (nervous) can influence hormone release and immune cell activity. The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis serves as a central hub, translating nervous system signals into endocrine outputs that profoundly shape the immune response, thereby ensuring a unified and adaptive physiological response to external and internal demands.

Neuro-Endo-Immune System

Meaning

The Neuro-Endo-Immune System (NEI System) is a comprehensive clinical model that views the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems not as separate entities but as a single, integrated regulatory network responsible for maintaining systemic homeostasis. This network engages in constant, complex, and bidirectional communication, utilizing shared signaling molecules like hormones, neurotransmitters, and cytokines to coordinate the body’s response to stress, infection, and environmental changes. Dysregulation within any single component of the NEI system inevitably affects the others, leading to a cascade of chronic health issues.