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Die gelernte Placeboantwort im Immunsystem

The learned placebo response in the immune system

  • Leitthema
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Zusammenfassung

Die gelernte Placeboantwort im Immunsystem basiert auf der wechselseitigen Interaktion zwischen Gehirn und Immunsystem; beide Systeme tauschen über humorale und neuronale Kommunikationswege beständig Informationen aus. Basierend auf diesem Kommunikationsnetzwerk lassen sich periphere Immunfunktionen mithilfe der klassischen oder pawlowschen Konditionierung entweder supprimieren oder stimulieren. Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über tierexperimentelle Befunde, die auch die potenzielle klinische Relevanz der gelernten Immunantwort dokumentieren. Immunologische Reaktionen lassen sich auch beim Menschen mithilfe der klassischen Konditionierung modifizieren. Diese experimentellen Daten und klinischen Beobachtungen eröffnen die Perspektive, die gelernte Immunantwort als supportive Maßnahme zu immunpharmakologischen Behandlungsstrategien einzusetzen, um Medikamente und damit auch unerwünschte Nebenwirkungen einzusparen, bei gleichzeitiger Maximierung der therapeutischen Effekte.

Abstract

The learned placebo response of the immune system is based on the mutual interaction between the brain and the immune system; both systems continually exchange information via humoral and neural communication pathways. This communication network enables the modification, i.e. suppression or stimulation, of peripheral immune functions by classical or Pavlov’s conditioning. The present article provides an overview of the results of recent experimental animal studies, which also document the potential clinical relevance of learned immune responses. Learned immunological responses mediated by classical conditioning have also been demonstrated in humans. The knowledge gained from experimental data and clinical observations paves the way for a potential implementation of learned immune responses as supportive measures to standard immunopharmacological treatment strategies to reduce drug dosage as well as adverse side effects while simultaneously maximizing the therapeutic effect.

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Förderung

Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), TRR 289 Treatment Expectation, Projektnummer 422744262

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Medizinische Psychologie und Verhaltensimmunbiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Deutschland

    T. Hörbelt,  M. Schedlowski & L. Lückemann

  2. Klinik für Neurochirurgie und Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Deutschland

    S. Hetze

Authors
  1. T. Hörbelt
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  2. S. Hetze
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  3. M. Schedlowski
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  4. L. Lückemann
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Correspondence to M. Schedlowski.

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Interessenkonflikt

T. Hörbelt, S. Hetze, M. Schedlowski und L. Lückemann geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Alle nationalen Richtlinien zur Haltung und zum Umgang mit Labortieren wurden eingehalten und die notwendigen Zustimmungen der zuständigen Behörden liegen vor.

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Hörbelt, T., Hetze, S., Schedlowski, M. et al. Die gelernte Placeboantwort im Immunsystem. Nervenarzt 91, 667–674 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00115-020-00945-6

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