Sympathetic neural-immune interactions regulate hematopoiesis, thermoregulation and inflammation in mammals

This review will highlight recently discovered mechanisms underlying sympathetic nervous system (SNS) regulation of the immune system in hematopoiesis, thermogenesis, and inflammation. This work in mammals illuminates potential mechanisms by which the nervous and immune systems may interact in invertebrate and early vertebrate species and allow diverse organisms to thrive under varying and extreme conditions and ultimately improve survival. •Norepinephrine is a critical regulator of hematopoietic stem activity.•Sub-thermoneutral temperatures activate the sympathetic nervous system to suppress tumor immunity and promote tumor growth.•Macrophage NE production is implicated in fat metabolism.•Catecholamines regulate lymphocyte emigration from lymph nodes.•The sympathetic nervous system is the efferent arm of reflexes that dampen immune and inflammatory responses.