Inhibitory neuropeptide receptors on macrophages.

The immune response, both in innate and adaptive immunity, is controlled at several levels, including signaling from the central nervous system. Neuropeptides released within the lymphoid organs modulate the immune response, either as stimulators or inhibitors. The subject of this review is the description of macrophage-expressed receptors of inhibitory neuropeptides. We describe the inhibitory effects on macrophage function for several neuropeptides, the receptors that mediate those activities, and the molecular mechanisms initiated by some of these receptors in terms of transduction pathways and transcriptional factors.