The
human immune system has long been thought to be connected in some way,
shape or form to the neurological system, but a recent study has now
determined that the immune system has more to do with the brain and its
processes than previously thought.
The immune system research that was done at the University of
Massachusetts Medical School and the University of Virginia has
discovered that the immune system has a direct effect on the social
behaviors of animals like mice. This discovery could now have important
ramifications for human that battle conditions like schizophrenia and
autism-spectrum disorders. [Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images]As
part of the research conducted at the University of Massachusetts
Medical School and the University of Virginia, scientists keyed in on an
immune system molecule called interferon gamma. This particular immune
system molecule is activated in certain animals – including humans –
when they want to be social. Scientists conducting the immune system
experiments blocked the interferon gamma molecule, inhibiting from
activating, and the results were eye-opening. When the immune system
molecule was blocked, the brains of the mice became ‘hyperactive,’ and
that the mice no longer tended towards socialization with their cage
mates, something that mice – being incredibly social creatures – are
usually prone to do. The conclusions were quickly assessed: manipulation
of the immune system had a direct effect on behavior.
Conversely, when the scientists discontinued their blockage of the
immune system molecule, allowing it to once again operate freely in the
brain, the mice calmed down and returned to their normal, social
behavior.
One of the study’s authors, Johathan Kipnis, chair of the University
of Virginia’s Department of Neuroscience, commented on the findings.
“It’s like a little airport in a small city suddenly
becomes a major hub and so there’s a mess of traffic congestion in the
air. ‘Same thing happens with the brain, so the brain cannot function
properly.”
The question of why our immune systems and our personalities are so
interconnected was also broached by the authors of the study. They have
postulated that the connection may actually be an evolutionary mechanism
built in to help a species survive. The linkage exists, encouraging
social creatures to interact and yet boosting our immune systems at the
same time to protect both the individual and the group.
As of now, the immune system experiment has only been conducted on
mice, but there is a belief that the immune system – personality
connection also exists in humans. This linkage is now leading scientists
to believe that they may be on the verge of breakthroughs in how to
best treat people with neurological disorders like schizophrenia and
autism.
Further study will examine how directly the correlation between the
immune system and behaviors reacts in both directions. That is, the
recent study from the University of Virginia suggested that manipulating
the immune system directly effects behavior. But, does changing one’s
behavior – as has long been postulated by scientists – actually alter
the immune system? The correlation between so-called “happy” individuals
and stronger immune systems, and “sad” or “depressed” individuals and
weaker immune systems has been supposed for years… and it now appears
that the immune system molecule isolated by the authors of this study – published in Nature – could be the smoking gun in that supposition. [(Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]Dr. Kipnis also spoke about the possible, future implications of the experiments.
“Immune molecules are actually defining how the brain is
functioning. So, what is the overall impact of the immune system on our
brain development and function? I think the philosophical aspects of
this work are very interesting, but it also has potentially very
important clinical implications.”
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