The Role of Neurons in Human Health and Disease 2.0

Dear Colleagues, 

The brain is the central regulator of the organism, responsible for maintaining homeostasis. Neurons are the most critical components of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The immune system protects us from all possible threats that could endanger the well-being of a human body. A strong immune system or a weakened one could make all the differences between the healthy and diseased conditions of a human body. The nervous and immune systems are both crucial for the survival of the human beings. The nervous system affects the activity of the immune system due to its unique anatomical structure and function. The brain can directly regulate the function of the most physiological systems. Neuronal regulation can improve the conditions under which the immune system works by synchronizing its activity with other physiological functions. The brain has the ability to perceive and evaluate the threats before they physically affect the organism. This predictive capacity also helps the immune system prepare for a possible danger in advance and could induce a more effective and faster response. One of the most prominent differences between the nervous and the immune systems is their speed of reaction. The nervous system can react within milliseconds, whereas immunological responses often require from several minutes up to weeks to develop. Although a slower immune reaction is mostly sufficient, a faster response can be beneficial in some cases. In this Special Issue, we focus mainly on how the brain and the nervous system affect immunity, specifically peripheral immunity, and how they play an essential role in human health and disease.

Dr. Yasemin M. Akay
Guest Editor

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