Philosophical Perspectives on Neuroendocrine–Immune Interactions: The Building Block Model and Complementary Neuro-Endocrine-Immune-Microbiota Systems Approaches

Gregor P. Greslehner, Federico Boem*, Lynn Chiu, Jan-Pieter Konsman

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The study of the interactions between the neuroendocrine and immune systems is a highly interdisciplinary research endeavor, in which the boundaries between the systems being studied become blurred. We address a common scientific perspective in dealing with intertwined complex systems, namely the conceptual approach in science that treats each system (e.g., nervous, immune, endocrine systems) as separate units or “building blocks” with unique functions that correspond to specific structures. While there are merits to this way of decomposing complex systems, there are several reasons why such an approach is limited when trying to recompose a physiological system that is engaged in intricate co-functioning and that is the result of co-development, and co-evolution, not just between these systems, but with the gut microbiota as well. Our suggestion is to take an alternative ecological evolutionary developmental approach to the neuro-endocrine-immune-microbiota system (NEIMS) as a whole, which can serve as complementary to the predominant building block perspective.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationNeuroendocrine-Immune System Interactions
    EditorsJan Pieter Konsman, Teresa M. Reyes
    Place of PublicationCham, Switzerland
    PublisherSpringer Nature
    Pages31-61
    Number of pages31
    ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-21358-8
    ISBN (Print)978-3-031-21357-1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 4 Mar 2023

    Publication series

    NameMasterclass in Neuroendocrinology
    PublisherSpringer Nature
    Volume13
    ISSN (Print)2662-2068
    ISSN (Electronic)2662-2076

    Keywords

    • n/a OA procedure

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