ABSTRACT
The interactions between the immune and the nervous systems in the lung, as in other organs, are bidirectional. The immune system can initiate processes leading to the release of mediators and cytokines that affect the neurophysiology of the airways. Conversely, transmitters released from nerves innervating the airways can act on cells of the immune system to affect their function. As can be expected, the majority of investigations on nerveimmune interactions in the lung have been carried out in vitro at the cellular level. There is relatively little information that addresses the role of the nervous system in pulmonary immunity. Likewise, the information pertaining to the influence of the immune system on the neurophysiology of the lung is, for the most part, of a speculative nature. In this chapter we have attempted to provide an overview of the research that supports the
hypothesis that nerve and immune cells interact in the airway, and provide some information on the potential consequence of this interaction in health and disease.
