Affiliations: [a] Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, México | [b] Department of Medicine, Pathology, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
| [c] Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Dr. Andrés Quintanar-Stephano, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Centro de
Ciencias Básicas, Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Av. Universidad # 940. Col. Ciudad Universitaria Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, CP 20131, México. Tel./Fax: +52 449 910 84 23; E-mail: aquinta@correo.uaa.mx.
Abstract: Neutrophil granulocytes, mononuclear-macrophages, dendritic cells, astrocytes and microglia are the phagocyte cells of the innate immune system. These cells recognize self-antigens via receptors for Major Histocompatibility Antigens. Everything what is foreign or denatured material they will ingest and digest. Macrophages, dendritic cells, astrocytes and microglia are antigen presenting cells and thus initiate an antibody and/or cell-mediated immune responses (ADIM). Although they have developed a high degree of autonomy, they interact with the several organ systems, mainly with the nervous and endocrine system with which it is closely and functionally linked. Here we review the neuroimmune biology of the phagocytes emphasizing in the interactions between receptors, cytokines, neurotransmitters and hormones that affect the phagocytic activity. The paper included in this review illustrates that the hormones of the anterior pituitary lobe and posterior lobe plays a differential regulation of the phagocytic activity of macrophages.
