Int Neurourol J.  2016 May;20(Suppl 1):S8-S14.

Central Nervous System-Peripheral Immune System Dialogue in Neurological Disorders: Possible Application of Neuroimmunology in Urology

• Park HS
• Park MJ
• Kwon MS

Abstract

Previous concepts of immune-privileged sites obscured the role of peripheral immune cells in neurological disorders and excluded the consideration of the potential benefits of immunotherapy. Recently, however, numerous studies have demonstrated that the blood-brain barrier in the central nervous system is an educational barrier rather than an absolute barrier to peripheral immune cells. Emerging knowledge of immune-privileged sites suggests that peripheral immune cells can infiltrate these sites via educative gates and that crosstalk can occur between infiltrating immune cells and the central nervous system parenchyma. This concept can be expanded to the testis, which has long been considered an immune-privileged site, and to neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Thus, we propose that the relationship between peripheral immune cells, the brain, and the urologic system should be considered as an additional possible mechanism in urologic diseases, and that immunotherapy might be an alternative therapeutic strategy in treating neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

Keyword

Neuroimmunology; T Cell; Neurological Disorders; Immunotherapy; Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

MeSH Terms

Blood-Brain Barrier
Brain
Central Nervous System
Immune System*
Immunotherapy
Nervous System Diseases*
Testis
Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic
Urologic Diseases
Urology*