Brain Research Bulletin Special Issue: Brain-body communication in health and diseases Brain-spleen axis in health and diseases: a review and future perspective.
Brain Research Bulletin February 1, 2022 Yan Wei, Tong Wang, Lei Liao et al.
The spleen filters blood and supports the immune system. New evidence shows it also influences brain function in health and disease through immune modulation. In mice, systemic inflammation or chronic social defeat stress causes spleen enlargement (splenomegaly). The antidepressant arketamine can reverse both splenomegaly and depression-like behaviors in stressed mice. A direct brain-to-spleen pathway exists: neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and central amygdala regulate humoral immune defense. Vagal nerve signaling also contributes to brain-spleen communication. This review summarizes recent findings on the brain-spleen axis.