A role for neuropeptide Y (NPY) in phagocytosis: implications for innate and adaptive immunity

Although it is broadly accepted that the immune system and the nervous system functionally interact with each other at various levels, many aspects of this crosstalk still remain unclear. One player in this interaction is neuropeptide Y (NPY), a sympathetic neurotransmitter, which has been demonstrated to regulate a broad variety of immune functions. In this review we will outline key findings on the effects NPY exerts on phagocytosis by neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages and its relevance to the elimination of invading pathogens. Furthermore, we will discuss the implications of these findings for antigen presentation by dendritic cells and the induction of adaptive immune responses.