T cell addiction: can pathogenic T cells be controlled using dopamine receptors?

Crosstalk between the immune system and the nervous system, via neurotransmitters such as dopamine, is increasingly of interest as we begin to learn how lymphocytes in peripheral tissues can both produce and respond to these molecules. This crosstalk can modulate immune responses by influencing the local tissue environment and can, for instance, influence the activation status and migration of T cells. Immune cells also use neurotransmitters to communicate with each other. Understanding how neurotransmitters influence the immune system may provide novel approaches for targeting diseases associated with tissue-specific inflammation, such as psoriasis.