Catecholamines, Sympathetic Innervation and Immunity: Role in Experimental and Rheumatoid Arthritis

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has a major role in homeostatic control of inflammatory and antigen specific immune reactions. This review summarizes the evidence that the SNS can enhance or suppress immune function, that SNS dysregulation is a critical component of the immune system dysregulation that underlies rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathology and that the SNS may be targeted in RA to restore immune system homeostasis and reduce pathology. The potential for SNS targeted therapeutics comparable to the newly approved anti-TNF-α drugs is discussed.