The Neuroimmune Axis in Skin Sensation, Inflammation, and Immunity

Abstract

Although connections between the immune and nervous systems have long been recognized, the precise mechanisms that underlie this relationship are just starting to be elucidated. Advances in sensory biology have unveiled novel mechanisms by which inflammatory cytokines promote itch and pain sensations to coordinate host-protective behavioral responses. Conversely, new evidence has emphasized the importance of immune cell regulation by sensory neurons. By focusing on itch biology and how it has been informed by the more established field of pain research, we highlight recent interdisciplinary studies that demonstrate how novel neuroimmune interactions underlie a diversity of sensory, inflammatory, and infectious diseases.