Neuroimmunology is the study of crosstalk between the central nervous system and the immune system of the body. Although the interaction between nervous and immune systems has been known for many decades, the term ‘neuroimmunology’ was only coined in 0s. A special ‘neuroimmunology program’ has also been established by the National Institute of Mental Health to support research work that studies the effects of immune cells, cytokines, and chemokines on brain development, synaptic plasticity, signal transduction pathways, neuronal circuits, and behaviors.
The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism that provides protection against infections and toxins. When foreign substances, including bacteria or viruses, enter the body, immune cells get activated and neutralize these potential threats through a cascade of complex cellular events.
Unlike other organs of the body, the brain is more susceptible to immune system-mediated damages, as chemicals released by immune cells as a part of the defense mechanism are often very toxic to brain cells.