Nontraditional cytokines

Abstract

Macrophages play a larger role in our physiology than previously thought.  It’s been recently discovered that macrophages influence the central nervous system (CNS) and metabolism through the chemical signals, catecholamines and adipokines allow these systems to interact. The CNS produces catecholamines that can have inflammatory effects due to the interaction catecholamines has with the adrenergic receptors on macrophages. Adipokines are chemical signals secreted from fat cells and recent studies show they influence inflammatory processes due to their interaction with macrophages and the immune system.