Affiliations: Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia | G.N. Gabrichevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
Note: [] Correspondence to: Alexander Pukhalsky, Research Centre for Medical Genetics, 1 Moskvorechie Street, Moscow, 115478, Russia. Tel.: +7 499 612 8124; Fax: +7 495 324 0702; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The brain and immune system being the two principal adaptive systems in the body permanently share information both in the form of neural impulses and soluble mediators. The CNS differs from other organs due to several peculiarities that affect local immune surveillance. The brain, which is separated from the rest of the body by blood-brain-barrier (BBB), produces the cytokines by itself and the latter along with other neurotransmitters regulate various brain functions including cognition, memory, and neuronal differentiation. The stress of different origin increases the serum cytokine levels and disrupts BBB. As a result peripheral cytokines penetrate into the brain where they begin to perform new functions. Long-term stress as well as physiological aging result in hormonal disturbance, first of all in the form of HPA axis depletion and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) decrease. Thus, the changes observed in stressed subject form a picture typical of the aging brain. The concept of stressful cognitive dysfunction, which is under consideration in this review, allows picking out several therapeutic targets. Clinical and experimental studies confirm efficiency of such choice although in some instances we can say only about indirect evidences.
