神经介质在免疫中的作用可能大于科学家们的认识。免疫学家们在《Science Express》2011年11月15日所发表的两篇文章称:“确认出几种神经介质在以前认为是神秘莫测的防卫机制中起关键性作用:神经系统如何刹住过热的炎症反应;脑卒中后感染的原因”。未参与此两项研究的斯坦福医学院的神经科教授Lawrence Steinman称,在健康和疾病中,脑与免疫系统之间的联系值得深入研究。这些发现可能对炎症和脑卒中病人的治疗有所启发。免疫系统保护机体不受感染和损伤,但对免疫的回应过强可能损伤器官或导致疾病的发生。迷走神经系统联系脑与躯体,调节炎症回应,尤其是神经介导乙酰胆碱由迷走神经分泌,在引起损伤之前,延缓免疫回应,例如,在脾脏,阻断危险剂量 The role of neurotransmitters in immunity may be greater than that of scientists. Two articles published by immunologists in Science Express on November 15, 2011 said: “Several neuronal mediators have been identified as playing a pivotal role in defense mechanisms previously thought to be mysterious: how the nervous system Stop overheating of the inflammatory response; causes of post-stroke infection ”. Lawrence Steinman, a professor of neuroscience at Stanford Medical School who did not participate in both studies, said that the link between the brain and the immune system deserves a deep study in health and disease. These findings may inspire the treatment of inflammatory and stroke patients. The immune system protects the body from infection and injury, but over-response to immunity can damage the organ or cause the disease. The vagal nervous system links the brain with the body, modulates the inflammatory response, and in particular, nerve-mediated secretion of acetylcholine from the vagus nerve that delays the immune response, for example, in the spleen, blocking dangerous doses