Research Supporting the Mind-Body Link
by Kevin J. Tracey, M.D.
Dr. KEVIN J. TRACEY, Director and Chief Executive of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research talks about the missing link: How the brain talks to the immune system
In a major step in understanding how the nervous system and the immune system interact, scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have identified a new anatomical path through which the brain and the spleen communicate.
The brain and the immune system have an intimate relationship and it could have implications for many diseases as well as strengthening the bonds of human health. Kevin J. Tracey, MD, Director and Chief Executive of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and his colleagues discovered that the vagus nerve, located in the brain stem, talks directly to the immune system, which is spread throughout the body. The brain has long been thought to communicate with the immune system only indirectly through the bloodstream. Now, with evidence of this direct connection, scientists can imagine ways to prevent immune-mediated diseases by altering brain responses or targeting the immune system itself as a way to control diseases.
"Every facet of the immune response has a role in eradicating invaders, neutralizing the potential for damage and protecting the body's tissues," said Dr. Tracey. But there are a number of autoimmune diseases that have led Dr. Tracey and others to wonder: "Why would the body make its own cells that would cause damage?"
To answer this question, Dr. Tracey has set out to understand how this direct communication takes place. In one study, he delivered a lethal bacteria called endotoxin to animals and watched as the immune system took hold to mount an all-out war against the invader. The animals responded by mounting a massive immune response that ended up killing them as their immune system tried to kill the lethal bacteria. It's an intriguing model of an autoimmune reaction. Then, to test the powers of the vagus nerve's role in immunity, they stimulated the vagus nerve and it prevented the immune system's lethal response to the endotoxin. The animals survived the event.
The Latin word for the vagus nerve is "to wander." That is exactly what it does; snaking all over the body's major organs - the heart, spleen, liver and kidneys. The immune system cells also live in these same organs and the vagus nerve sends out chemical signals that produce an electrical signal that talks to the nerves. During the endotoxin experiments, Dr. Tracey and his colleagues discovered that a brain chemical called acetylcholine is summoned and floats a short distance to land on receptors of immune cells called macrophages, and this seems to shut off the massive immune response.
This is the first time that it has been shown that nerves can directly turn off the immune response to invasion, whether by injury or infection. Research is now underway to see whether tweaking the brain's acetylcholine system could be a natural way to control the inflammatory response. Inflammation is key to many diseases - from autoimmune conditions like Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis to Alzheimer's, where scientists have identified a strong inflammatory component.
The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research is a unique, disease-oriented biomedical research institution dedicated to advancing science, shaping medicine and making a difference in people’s lives. Our more than 100 doctors and scientists study disease at all levels — from molecular biology to patient-oriented research — and translate their scientific findings into practical use. Located in Manhasset, NY, The Feinstein Institute is one of the fastest-growing biomedical research institutes in the country.
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