Abstract
The hypothalamic neuroendocrine system is mainly composed of the neural structures regulating hormone secretion from the pituitary gland and has been considered as the higher regulatory center of the immune system. Recently, the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS) emerged as an important component of neuroendocrine–immune network, wherein the oxytocin (OT)-secreting system (OSS) plays an essential role. The OSS, consisting of OT neurons in the supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, their several accessory nuclei and associated structures, can integrate neural, endocrine, metabolic, and immune information and plays a pivotal role in the development and functions of the immune system. The OSS can promote the development of thymus and bone marrow, perform immune surveillance, strengthen immune defense, and maintain immune homeostasis. Correspondingly, OT can inhibit inflammation, exert antibiotic-like effect, promote wound healing and regeneration, and suppress stress-associated immune disorders. In this process, the OSS can release OT to act on immune system directly by activating OT receptors or through modulating activities of other hypothalamic–pituitary–immune axes and autonomic nervous system indirectly. However, our understandings of the role of the OSS in neuroendocrine regulation of immune system are largely incomplete, particularly its relationship with other hypothalamic–pituitary–immune axes and the vasopressin-secreting system that coexists with the OSS in the HNS. In addition, it remains unclear about the relationship between the OSS and peripherally produced OT in immune regulation, particularly intrathymic OT that is known to elicit central immunological self-tolerance of T-cells to hypophysial hormones. In this work, we provide a brief review of current knowledge of the features of OSS regulation of the immune system and of potential approaches that mediate OSS coordination of the activities of entire neuroendocrine–immune network.
Introduction
Immune activities are regulated by many factors, such as the genetic individual variations, immune cytokine, hormone, emotion, nutrition, metabolism, sleep, age, neural activity, and pathogens. Among them, neuroendocrine regulation of immune system is the fundamental machinery (1, 2). Recently, the hypothalamic oxytocin (OT)-secreting system (OSS) has emerged as a pivotal factor in neuroendocrine regulation of immune activities (3). However, its relationship with other hypothalamic–pituitary–immune axes as well as peripherally produced OT remains unclear, which is further explored in this review.
Neuroendocrine–Immune Network and the OSS
The Neuroendocrine–Immune Network
As early as 1977, the existence of a neural–endocrine–immune network has been proposed (4). In this network, immune activity can influence the development (5) and functions (6) of rat hypothalamus, the higher control center of the neuroendocrine system. Conversely, changes in neuroendocrine activities can affect the immune response through pituitary tropic hormones and the autonomic nervous system (7). This bidirectional communication between hypothalamic neuroendocrine system and the immune system forms a neuroendocrine–immune network.
The OSS–Immune Network
In the neuroendocrine–immune network, immune regulatory roles of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS) (8), particularly its OSS, have been considered critical (3). The OSS is mainly composed of magnocellular OT neurons in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and several accessory nuclei of the hypothalamus as well as their axon terminals in the posterior lobe of the pituitary. In addition, parvocellular OT neurons in the PVN, a major source of OT in the brain and spinal cord, coexist with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) neurons in the PVN while closely interacting with magnocellular OT neurons (9) and the autonomic center that can regulate immune activity through sympathetic nervous system (10). In this OSS–immune network, the magnocellular OT neurons in the SON play a dominant role in response to immune challenges as shown in rat sepsis (11).
Characteristics of the OSS–Immune Network
The OSS Is Involved in the Development and Functions of the Central Immune Organs
It has been reported that neurointermediate pituitary lobectomy, blocking the secretion of neurohypophysial hormones including OT, significantly changed humoral and cellular immune responses in rats (12, 13). OT can also promote the formation of human hematopoietic stem cells (14) and promote rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell migration (15). Moreover, blocking OT receptor (OTR) signaling can inhibit the differentiation of mouse thymic T-cells (16) and estrogen-evoked bone formation (17) while increasing the expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 in human amnion (18). Thus, OT is a key regulator of the immune system and thus can extensively regulate immune activity (3), which is considered to be mediated by OTRs as summarized in Table 1.
Table 1
| Sources | Targets | Effects | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development of the immune system | |||
| Human, mouse | Osteoblast | Bone mass ↑ | (17) |
| Rat | BMSC | Intracellular [Ca2+] ↑ | (19) |
| Rat | MSC | Apoptosis ↓ | (20) |
| Human, rat, and mouse | Thymus | Clone deletion of self-reactive T-cells ↑ | (1, 16) |
| Mouse fetus | Thymic organ cultures | Survival of thymic CDS cells ↑ | (21, 22) |
| Rat | UCB-MSC | Migration of BMSC to the injured area ↑ | (15, 23) |
| Parturient women | Blood | Number of B-lymphocyte ↑ | (24) |
| Immune surveillance | |||
| Rat at early stage of sepsis | Brain, plasma | OT levels ↑, OT in the SON and neurohypophysis ↓ | (25) |
| Rats of acute pancreatitis | Brain | Brain OT release ↑ | (26) |
| Rats with advanced cancer | The OSS | Fos expression in OT neurons ↑ | (27) |
| Rats with adjuvant arthritis | SON, PVN | OT mRNA ↑ | (28) |
| Human lung and GI tumors | Lung, liver | OTR in tumor tissues ↑ | (29, 30) |
| Breast cancer | OT levels | Pituitary and blood ↑; cancer tissues ↓ | (31) |
| Immune defense | |||
| Humans and animals | Immune cells, blood | Inflammatory cytokines, e.g., nitrite, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels ↓; oxidative stress ↓; apoptotic pathways ↓; immune damages, activation of free radical damaging cascades and lactate dehydrogenase ↓; excessive infiltration of neutrophils ↓ | (25, 32–36) |
| Human | Plasma | ACTH, cortisol, procalcitonin, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-lα and 1β, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interferon-inducible protein 10, and vascular endothelial growth factor ↓ | (37) |
| Human | Skin | Antibacterial effect of antibiotics ↑ | (38) |
| Human | Skin | Wound healing ↑ | (39) |
| Rat | Stomach | Antisecretory and antiulcer effects ↑ | (40, 41) |
| Rat | Peripheral neuron | Harmful effects of hyperglycemia ↓ | (32) |
| Mice | CD157 signaling | Mental disorders associated with immune disorders ↓ | (42) |
| Immune homeostasis | |||
| Rat | DM-MSC | Angiogenic capacity | (43) |
| Rabbit | Myocardial cell | Antifibrotic and angiogenic effect | (44) |
| Rat and swine | Brain | Autoantibodies in multiple sclerosis are reactive with OT neurons | (45) |
| Diabetic rats | Muscle, pancreas | Regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle and pancreatic islet cells ↑ | (46, 47) |
| Caco2BB gut cells | Enterocyte | Inflammation-evoked apoptosis ↓ | (48) |
| HIV-infected patients | Blood | CD4+ cell counts ↑ | (49) |
Major immune functions of the oxytocin-secreting system (OSS).
ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; BMSC, bone marrow stromal cells; DM-MSC, diabetic bone MSC; MSC, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell; IL, interleukin; OT, oxytocin; OTR, OT receptor; PVN, paraventricular nucleus; SON, supraoptic nucleus; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha; UCB-MSC, umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell.
The OSS Bidirectionally Communicates with the Immune System through Multiple Approaches
Oxytocin can regulate immune functions (37) by activating OTRs directly (3) and through sympathetic outflow (10, 50) that is known to control the activity of rat thymus (51) and bone marrow (52). OT can also change the activity of other hypothalamic–pituitary–immune axes (Figure 1A). Conversely, the OSS is also the target of immune diseases. For example, OT neurophysin shares an antigen with human lung carcinoma LX-1 cells (53); OT neurons are a major target of many autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (45, 54); OT in hypothalamic neurons decreased in HIV-infected patients (55). In response to immune challenges, IL-6 (50) and IL-1β (56) can activate rodent OT neurons in the PVN and/or SON, while microglia in the PVN can increase OT secretion and sympathetic activity (57). Thus, the OSS can regulate immune activity more accurately.
Figure 1

Diagram of immune functions of the oxytocin-secreting system (OSS) through a variety of approaches. (A) Overview of the approaches. The circled numbers 1–9 represent the effects of OT on the immune system through activating peripheral OTRs on central immune organs (1) and peripheral immune organs, tissues, and cells (2); and secretion of IL-1β (3) as well as via centrally acting on VP neurons (4); the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis (5); autonomic nervous system (6); growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) (7); and social brain and the limbic system (8). In addition, peripherally produced OT also exerts some autoregulatory effects (9). (B) Interactions between the OSS and HPA axis. Note that plus sign in red circle and minus sign in black circle represent facilitation and inhibition, respectively; the dashed line in green indicates multiple approaches. (C) Interactions between the OSS and HPG axis. (D) Interactions between the OSS and HPT axis. (E) Interactions of the OSS with GH and PRL. (F) Synergic effects of the OSS and peripherally produced OT on the immune system. Abbreviations: ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; An, androgens; differ., differentiation; inflam., inflammation; E, estrogens; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; GC, glucocorticoids; IL, interleukin; LH, luteinizing hormone; P, progesterone; T3/4, triiodothyronine and thyroxine; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; VP, vasopressin.
OT Neurons Are “Immune Cells” and Mainly Function through OTRs
Oxytocin neurons can produce cytokines such as IL-1β (58), nitric oxide (59), and prostaglandins (60, 61) in rats. These cytokines can not only autoregulate OT neuronal activity, such as nitric oxide (62) and prostaglandins (61) in rats, but also extensively modulate immune activity of other brain structures (63) (Figure 1A).
Both the OSS and the immune system can synthesize and release neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and cytokines while expressing receptors for both neuropeptides and immune cytokines including OT and OTRs (1, 2). OTRs are widely identified in immune organs, tissues, and cells, such as rat thymic epithelial cells (64) and bone marrow stem cells (19). Importantly, the expression of OTRs in immune tissues can be inducible, which has been shown in bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and T lymphocytes (65), rat mesenchymal stem cells (19), and gut (48). Thus, OT can modulate immune activity and immune-regulating cells directly and dynamically to meet the demands of a variety of immune challenges.
The OSS Behaves As an Integrative Organ in Feedforward and Feedback Immune Loops
Oxytocin neurons can integrate information from presynaptic neurons, detect the state of astrocytic plasticity and microglial activation, sense concentrations of blood-borne substances and local neurochemical including cytokines (3, 66–68), and in turn secrete appropriate amount of OT into the blood and brain. This could preset the immune system in an optimal working condition through regulating the activity of bone marrow, thymus, and T-/B-cells as well as other immune organs and tissues (3). In parallel, overly increased immune challenges can be suppressed through increasing OT release. For example, IL-1β released by immune cells can activate OT neurons or promote the release of OT into the blood in rats (69, 70); OT subsequently reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines as evidenced in men (37), thereby maintaining the homeostasis of immune functions and inhibiting immune damages.
Immune Functions of the OSS
The OSS is involved in many physiological and pathological immune processes (Table 1), which falls into the following categories.
Immune Surveillance
The OSS can detect immune states and serves as biomarker of immune challenges. For instance, it has been identified in rats that there is significant increase in plasma OT levels at the early stage of sepsis (25), brain OT release following pancreatic injury (26), OT mRNA in adjuvant arthritis (28), and Fos expression in the OSS in advanced cancer (27). Thus, increased OT levels manifest immune disturbance.
Strengthening Immune Defense
Body’s immune defense is carried out through multiple levels of immune machineries. OT can strengthen the physical and chemical barriers through suppressing proinflammatory cytokines (34) and promoting wound healing (39) in human skin, enforce human non-specific cellular and humoral immunity via strengthening the antibacterial effect of antibiotics (38) and accelerating migration of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to the injured area (15), and increase acquired immunity by promoting the differentiation of mouse thymic cells (16). OT was also found to alleviate harmful effects of hyperglycemia on rat peripheral neurons by suppressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptotic pathways (32). As a result, activated OSS can adjust inflammatory reactions at appropriate levels to prevent body from immune damages.
Maintenance of Immune Homeostasis
A healthy individual may fall into diseases due to excessive or insufficient immune activity. Theoretically, the regulatory effects of OT on immune responses should allow OT to influence the progress of autoimmune diseases, which is supported by the finding that in women living with HIV, high levels of OT were positively associated with CD4+ cell counts (49). Moreover, OT was found to increase the production of hematopoietic stem cells and the survival of thymic CD8 cells (22) while reducing the infiltration of neutrophils in rats (33, 36) and the production of human inflammatory cytokines (34). Thus, OT is critical in maintaining immune homeostasis.
Other Immune Functions
The OSS can also influence other immune processes. For example, OT can improve autism, depression, and other mental disorders associated with immune disorders (71) and increase resistance of enterocyte apoptosis (48) while reducing the apoptosis of rat mesenchymal stem cells (20), and promoting regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle (46) and pancreatic islet cells of diabetic rats (47).
Adverse Effect
It is worth noting that OT can worsen immune injury at parturient women with latex allergy and bronchial asthma (72), chorioamnionitis (73), and premature birth (74). This is likely associated with the muscle contraction following OTR activation in these tissues (18, 75) and requires special attention to the application of OT in parturient women with related disease histories.
Relationship Between the OSS and Other Neuroendocrine Regulatory Systems
The neuroendocrine regulation of immune activities has been considered as a function of several hypothalamic neuroendocrine axes, particularly the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. Changes in their activity can change the secretion of glucocorticoids (GC), thyroid hormone, sex steroid hormone, growth hormone (GH) prolactin (PRL), and vasopressin (VP) and thus profoundly affect lymphocyte homeostasis, self-tolerance, and immune pathological processes (76, 77). Importantly, there are close associations between activities of the OSS and these axes in the neuroendocrine regulation of the immune system. Additionally, the contribution of peripherally produced OT, particularly intrathymic OT, to the OT-associated immune activity should also influence the immune functions of the OSS.
The OSS and Hypothalamic–Adenohypophysial–Immune Axes in Immune Regulation
The immune regulatory roles of the adenohypophysial hormones (2, 63) are different from the neurohypophysial hormones as indicated by the effects of different types of pituitary lobectomy in rodents on antibody-mediated antimicrobial effects (78) and on antibody- and cell-mediated antiparasite effects (13, 79). Moreover, the OSS has close interactions with the HPA, HPT, and HPG axes (Figure 1A).
The OSS and HPA Axis
The immune function of HPA axis is mainly at suppression of immune reactions by offsetting the inflammatory reaction while activating anti-inflammatory processes (80–82). Experiments in rats further revealed that GC can rapidly inhibit the hypothalamic neuroendocrine activities including the secretion of CRH and OT (83). By contrast, OT can inhibit the activation of HPA axis induced by some stress stimuli (84) and their associated maternal depression (85) in rats. This is consistent with the finding that maternal separation decreased rat OSS activity (85, 86) while increasing the activity of HPA axis in calves (87). However, the OSS and HPA axis could work synergistically through suppression of inflammatory reactions by corticosteroids and OT, respectively (Figure 1B).
The OSS and HPT Axis
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone can directly regulate the immune activity as seen in mouse allergic encephalomyelitis (88) and in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and primary hypothyroidism (89). It is also reported that triiodothyronine plays a critical role in controlling the maturation and antitumor functions of mouse dendritic cells and stimulation of cytotoxic T-cell responses (90). There is also evidence showing a close interaction between the OSS and the HPT axis. For example, high dose of triiodothyronine can increase OT mRNA levels in rat PVN (91) and OT release from rat pituitary (92). On the contrary, OT can reduce the response of pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone cells to TRH and then reduce the release of thyroid hormone in rats (31) (Figure 1C).
The OSS and HPG Axis
The HPG axis is mainly involved in immune responses during sexual activity, menstrual cycle, and pregnancy (93). Estrogen can activate the immune response and even cause autoimmune diseases, such as lupus erythematosus, while androgen plays a role in human immune suppression (94). On the one hand, OT can stimulate the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone directly by activating rat gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons (95). On the other hand, the OSS is modulated by sex steroid hormones. For example, allopregnanolone suppresses (56) and estrogen increases (96) the activity of magnocellular OT neurons and/or OT secretion (Figure 1D). Noteworthy is that the interactions between the OSS and HPG axis could vary in females at reproductive age due to the variations of hormonal interactions at different stages of reproduction (70, 97).
Comparison of Immune Regulatory Effects of VP versus OT
The VP-secreting system (VSS) and OSS coexist in the HNS (68), and thus, the VSS could also be involved in the immune effects of rat neurointermediate lobectomy (12, 13). In fact, the VSS does have certain immune functions that are often opposite to the OSS (68). For example, in rat tissue culture, VP inhibits and OT facilitates the growth of thymus gland (98). Moreover, the immune functions of the VSS are narrower than that of the OSS. For example, the distribution of OTRs in the immune system is more extensive than that of VP receptors as seen in rats (99) and in mice (21). In contrast to the extensive immune functions of the OSS (Table 1), blocking VP signaling can only block the production of interferon-γ by mouse spleen lymphocytes specifically and reversibly (100) along with a few of other functions (68).
Noteworthy are the following exceptions. (1) The VSS can also inhibit immune reaction at brain levels (101) and that is likely due to VP-evoked activation of the HPA axis (82). (2) The OSS and VSS may promote the maturation of immune system sequentially. That is, OT promotes T-cell differentiation in the thymus (16), and VP further facilitates their maturation in the spleen (100). Finally, OT can increase the activity of VP neurons (60), and thus, the functions of VSS can be considered as a supplement to the OSS in immune regulation.
Relationship between the OSS and Other Neuroendocrine Activities
In addition to the three major hypothalamic neuroendocrine axes and the VSS, other hypophysial hormones, such as GH and PRL, are also involved in neuroendocrine regulation of immune responses (Figure 1E). GH and PRL can improve the proliferation and transplantation of the thymic cells and exert immune promoting effects (102). These two hormones also have close interaction with the OSS. It has been reported that application of OT in rat cerebral ventricles promotes the secretion of GH (103); OT can act on rat adenohypophysis to increase the secretion of PRL that reversely promotes the production of OT (103). This immune regulatory effect of OT via GH and PRL is consistent with the suppressive effect of neurointermediate lobectomy on rat thymus development (12, 13) and supports that OT is an essential hormone in the development and functions of the immune system.
Intrathymic OT versus the OSS in Immune Regulation
Both OT and OTR are expressed in mouse bone marrow (17) and in the thymus (104, 105) as well as many other components of the immune system (106, 107). Thus, peripheral OT has also some important immune functions (Figure 1F). For example, the intrathymic OT can dually regulate T cell-negative and -positive selections (108). Thymic epithelium can present OT and elicit clone deletion of self-reactive T-cells (1), thereby eliciting central immune self-tolerance of T-cells to OT and other hypophysial hormones (108). This function, as well as OT effects on rat bone marrow development (19), indicates that locally produced OT has important role in the maturation of immune system. However, as the thymus involutes over time, the immune functions of local OT mainly serve as a supplemental factor to OSS regulation of the immune system at local levels (77) through hidden secretion (108) or autocrine/paracrine effects (17).
Conclusion
The OSS plays a key role in the neuroendocrine–immune network. It not only has direct regulatory effects on the development and functions of the immune system but also exerts functions of immune defense and homeostasis through coordinating the activity of the whole neuroendocrine–immune network as well as peripherally produced OT (Figure 1). The main question remaining to be answered is still the details of its relationship with other components in the neuroendocrine–immune network and peripherally produced OT under different types and extents of immune challenges. Answering these questions has great theoretical significance and broad potential for medical translation.
Statements
Author contributions
TL and PW wrote the first draft; SW participated in the revision; and YFW designed the review and made the final revision.
Acknowledgments
This work was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 31471113, Y-FW) and the higher education talents funds of Heilongjiang province (grant no. 002000154). The funders had no role in the content of the text, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
1
GeenenV. Thymus-dependent T cell tolerance of neuroendocrine functions: principles, reflections, and implications for tolerogenic/negative self-vaccination. Ann N Y Acad Sci (2006) 1088:284–96.10.1196/annals.1366.009
2
Verburg-van KemenadeBMCohenNChadzinskaM. Neuroendocrine-immune interaction: evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that maintain allostasis in an ever-changing environment. Dev Comp Immunol (2017) 66:2–23.10.1016/j.dci.2016.05.015
3
WangPYangHPTianSWangLWangSCZhangFet alOxytocin-secreting system: a major part of the neuroendocrine center regulating immunologic activity. J Neuroimmunol (2015) 289:152–61.10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.11.001
4
BesedovskyHSorkinE. Network of immune-neuroendocrine interactions. Clin Exp Immunol (1977) 27(1):1–12.
5
FicekW. The physiological relationship between the hypothalamus and thymus of Wistar rats. I. Some morphological and microstructural changes in the hypothalamus in newborn rats following thymectomy. Gegenbaurs Morphol Jahrb (1982) 128(5):732–40.
6
SominskyLFullerEABondarenkoEOngLKAverellLNalivaikoEet alFunctional programming of the autonomic nervous system by early life immune exposure: implications for anxiety. PLoS One (2013) 8(3):e57700.10.1371/journal.pone.0057700
7
Buisman-PijlmanFTSumrackiNMGordonJJHullPRCarterCSTopsM. Individual differences underlying susceptibility to addiction: role for the endogenous oxytocin system. Pharmacol Biochem Behav (2014) 119:22–38.10.1016/j.pbb.2013.09.005
8
PittmanQJ. A neuro-endocrine-immune symphony. J Neuroendocrinol (2011) 23(12):1296–7.10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02176.x
9
EliavaMMelchiorMKnobloch-BollmannHSWahisJda Silva GouveiaMTangYet alA new population of parvocellular oxytocin neurons controlling magnocellular neuron activity and inflammatory pain processing. Neuron (2016) 89(6):1291–304.10.1016/j.neuron.2016.01.041
10
YangHWangLJuG. Evidence for hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus as an integrative center of neuroimmunomodulation. Neuroimmunomodulation (1997) 4(3):120–7.
11
SendemirEKafaIMSchaferHHJirikowskiGF. Altered oxytocinergic hypothalamus systems in sepsis. J Chem Neuroanat (2013) 52:44–8.10.1016/j.jchemneu.2013.05.001
12
Quintanar-StephanoAKovacsKBercziI. Effects of neurointermediate pituitary lobectomy on humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in the rat. Neuroimmunomodulation (2004) 11(4):233–40.10.1159/000078441
13
Campos-RodriguezRQuintanar-StephanoAJarillo-LunaRAOliver-AguillonGVentura-JuarezJRivera-AguilarVet alHypophysectomy and neurointermediate pituitary lobectomy reduce serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG and intestinal IgA responses to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection in rats. Infect Immun (2006) 74(3):1883–9.10.1128/IAI.74.3.1883-1889.2006
14
ElabdCBasillaisABeaupiedHBreuilVWagnerNScheidelerMet alOxytocin controls differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells and reverses osteoporosis. Stem Cells (2008) 26(9):2399–407.10.1634/stemcells.2008-0127
15
KimYSAhnYKwonJSChoYKJeongMHChoJGet alPriming of mesenchymal stem cells with oxytocin enhances the cardiac repair in ischemia/reperfusion injury. Cells Tissues Organs (2012) 195(5):428–42.10.1159/000329234
16
HansenneI. Thymic transcription of neurohypophysial and insulin-related genes: impact upon T-cell differentiation and self-tolerance. J Neuroendocrinol (2005) 17(5):321–7.10.1111/j.1365-2826.2005.01301.x
17
ColaianniGSunLZaidiMZalloneA. Oxytocin and bone. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol (2014) 307(8):R970–7.10.1152/ajpregu.00040.2014
18
KimSHMacIntyreDAHanyalogluACBlanksAMThorntonSBennettPRet alThe oxytocin receptor antagonist, Atosiban, activates pro-inflammatory pathways in human amnion via G signaling. Mol Cell Endocrinol (2016) 420:11–23.10.1016/j.mce.2015.11.012
19
ForostyakOButenkoOAnderovaMForostyakSSykovaEVerkhratskyAet alSpecific profiles of ion channels and ionotropic receptors define adipose- and bone marrow derived stromal cells. Stem Cell Res (2016) 16(3):622–34.10.1016/j.scr.2016.03.010
20
NoiseuxNBorieMDesnoyersAMenaouarAStevensLMMansourSet alPreconditioning of stem cells by oxytocin to improve their therapeutic potential. Endocrinology (2012) 153(11):5361–72.10.1210/en.2012-1402
21
HansenneIRasierGCharlet-RenardCDeFresneMPGreimersRBretonCet alNeurohypophysial receptor gene expression by thymic T cell subsets and thymic T cell lymphoma cell lines. Clin Dev Immunol (2004) 11(1):45–51.10.1080/10446670410001670481
22
HansenneIRasierGPequeuxCBrilotFRenardCBretonCet alOntogenesis and functional aspects of oxytocin and vasopressin gene expression in the thymus network. J Neuroimmunol (2005) 158(1–2):67–75.10.1016/j.jneuroim.2004.08.007
23
KimYSKwonJSHongMHKimJSongCHJeongMHet alPromigratory activity of oxytocin on umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Artif Organs (2010) 34(6):453–61.10.1111/j.1525-1594.2009.00894.x
24
DostalMZivnyJHartingPDejmekJSteerenbergPAvan LoverenHet alEffects of labour and medication on major lymphocyte subsets in cord. Biomarkers (1997) 2(6):361–6.10.1080/135475097231454
25
Oliveira-PelegrinGRSaiaRSCarnioECRochaMJ. Oxytocin affects nitric oxide and cytokine production by sepsis-sensitized macrophages. Neuroimmunomodulation (2013) 20(2):65–71.10.1159/000345044
26
HamasakiMYBarbeiroHVBarbeiroDFCunhaDMKoikeMKMachadoMCet alNeuropeptides in the brain defense against distant organ damage. J Neuroimmunol (2016) 290:33–5.10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.11.014
27
MravecBLackovicovaLPirnikZBizikJBundzikovaJHulinIet alBrain response to induced peripheral cancer development in rats: dual fos-tyrosine hydroxylase and fos-oxytocin immunohistochemistry. Endocr Regul (2009) 43(1):3–11.10.4149/endo_2009_01_3
28
MatsuuraTKawasakiMHashimotoHIshikuraTYoshimuraMOhkuboJIet alFluorescent visualisation of oxytocin in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial/-spinal pathways after chronic inflammation in oxytocin-monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 transgenic rats. J Neuroendocrinol (2015) 27(7):636–46.10.1111/jne.12290
29
PequeuxCBretonCHagelsteinMTGeenenVLegrosJJ. Oxytocin receptor pattern of expression in primary lung cancer and in normal human lung. Lung Cancer (2005) 50(2):177–88.10.1016/j.lungcan.2005.05.027
30
ShermanSKMaxwellJECarrJCWangDBellizziAMSueOet alGene expression accurately distinguishes liver metastases of small bowel and pancreas neuroendocrine tumors. Clin Exp Metastasis (2014) 31(8):935–44.10.1007/s10585-014-9681-2
31
Carrera-GonzalezMPRamirez-ExpositoMJde SaavedraJMSanchez-AgestaRMayasMDMartinez-MartosJM. Hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis disruption in rats with breast cancer is related to an altered endogenous oxytocin/insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) system. Tumour Biol (2011) 32(3):543–9.10.1007/s13277-010-0149-y
32
ErbasOTaskiranDOltuluFYavasogluABoraSBilgeOet alOxytocin provides protection against diabetic polyneuropathy in rats. Neurol Res (2017) 39(1):45–53.10.1080/01616412.2016.1249630
33
IseriSOSenerGSaglamBGedikNErcanFYegenBC. Oxytocin ameliorates oxidative colonic inflammation by a neutrophil-dependent mechanism. Peptides (2005) 26(3):483–91.10.1016/j.peptides.2004.10.005
34
DeingVRoggenkampDKuhnlJGruschkaAStabFWenckHet alOxytocin modulates proliferation and stress responses of human skin cells: implications for atopic dermatitis. Exp Dermatol (2013) 22(6):399–405.10.1111/exd.12155
35
RossKMMcDonald-JonesGMillerGE. Oxytocin does not attenuate the ex vivo production of inflammatory cytokines by lipopolysaccharide-activated monocytes and macrophages from healthy male and female donors. Neuroimmunomodulation (2013) 20(5):285–93.10.1159/000351610
36
JankowskiMBissonauthVGaoLGangalMWangDDanalacheBet alAnti-inflammatory effect of oxytocin in rat myocardial infarction. Basic Res Cardiol (2010) 105(2):205–18.10.1007/s00395-009-0076-5
37
ClodiMVilaGGeyereggerRRiedlMStulnigTMStruckJet alOxytocin alleviates the neuroendocrine and cytokine response to bacterial endotoxin in healthy men. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab (2008) 295(3):E686–91.10.1152/ajpendo.90263.2008
38
KurlaevPPGavrilenkoVG. [Correction of hyperglycemia in diabetic patients with postinjection abscesses]. Khirurgiia (Mosk) (2001) (7):39–41.
39
GurtnerGCWernerSBarrandonYLongakerMT. Wound repair and regeneration. Nature (2008) 453(7193):314–21.10.1038/nature07039
40
IseriSOGedikIEErzikCUsluBArbakSGedikNet alOxytocin ameliorates skin damage and oxidant gastric injury in rats with thermal trauma. Burns (2008) 34(3):361–9.10.1016/j.burns.2007.03.022
41
IseriSODusunceliFErzikCUsluBArbakSYegenBC. Oxytocin or social housing alleviates local burn injury in rats. J Surg Res (2010) 162(1):122–31.10.1016/j.jss.2009.02.018
42
LopatinaOYoshiharaTNishimuraTZhongJAktherSFakhrulAAet alAnxiety- and depression-like behavior in mice lacking the CD157/BST1 gene, a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. Front Behav Neurosci (2014) 8:133.10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00133
43
KimYSKwonJSHongMHKangWSJeongHYKangHJet alRestoration of angiogenic capacity of diabetes-insulted mesenchymal stem cells by oxytocin. BMC Cell Biol (2013) 14(1):38.10.1186/1471-2121-14-38
44
KobayashiHYasudaSBaoNIwasaMKawamuraIYamadaYet alPostinfarct treatment with oxytocin improves cardiac function and remodeling via activating cell-survival signals and angiogenesis. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol (2009) 54(6):510–9.10.1097/FJC.0b013e3181bfac02
45
MollerAHansenBLHansenGNHagenC. Autoantibodies in sera from patients with multiple sclerosis directed against antigenic determinants in pituitary growth hormone-producing cells and in structures containing vasopressin/oxytocin. J Neuroimmunol (1985) 8(2–3):177–84.10.1016/S0165-5728(85)80058-8
46
ElabdCCousinWUpadhyayulaPChenRYChooljianMSLiJet alOxytocin is an age-specific circulating hormone that is necessary for muscle maintenance and regeneration. Nat Commun (2014) 5:4082.10.1038/ncomms5082
47
ElabdSKSabryIMohassebMAlgendyA. Oxytocin as a novel therapeutic option for type I diabetes and diabetic osteopathy. Endocr Regul (2014) 48(2):87–102.10.4149/endo_2014_02_87
48
KleinBYTamirHHirschbergDLLudwigRJGlicksteinSBMyersMMet alOxytocin opposes effects of bacterial endotoxin on ER-stress signaling in Caco2BB gut cells. Biochim Biophys Acta (2016) 1860(2):402–11.10.1016/j.bbagen.2015.10.025
49
FeketeEMAntoniMHLopezCMendezAJSzetoAFletcherMAet alStress buffering effects of oxytocin on HIV status in low-income ethnic minority women. Psychoneuroendocrinology (2011) 36(6):881–90.10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.12.003
50
BenrickAScheleEPinnockSBWernstedt-AsterholmIDicksonSLKarlsson-LindahlLet alInterleukin-6 gene knockout influences energy balance regulating peptides in the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. J Neuroendocrinol (2009) 21(7):620–8.10.1111/j.1365-2826.2009.01879.x
51
TrotterRNStornettaRLGuyenetPGRobertsMR. Transneuronal mapping of the CNS network controlling sympathetic outflow to the rat thymus. Auton Neurosci (2007) 131(1–2):9–20.10.1016/j.autneu.2006.06.001
52
SantistebanMMAhmariNCarvajalJMZinglerMBQiYKimSet alInvolvement of bone marrow cells and neuroinflammation in hypertension. Circ Res (2015) 117(2):178–91.10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.117.305853
53
NilaverGRosenbaumLCHellstromKEHellstromINeuweltEA. Identification of neurophysin immunoreactivity in hypothalamus by a monoclonal antibody to a carcinoma cell surface antigen. Neuroendocrinology (1990) 51(5):565–71.10.1159/000125392
54
HuitingaIvan der CammenMSalmLErkutZvan DamATildersFet alIL-1beta immunoreactive neurons in the human hypothalamus: reduced numbers in multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol (2000) 107(1):8–20.10.1016/S0165-5728(00)00248-4
55
LangfordDBaronDJoyJDel ValleLShackJ. Contributions of HIV infection in the hypothalamus and substance abuse/use to HPT dysregulation. Psychoneuroendocrinology (2011) 36(5):710–9.10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.10.005
56
BruntonPJBalesJRussellJA. Allopregnanolone and induction of endogenous opioid inhibition of oxytocin responses to immune stress in pregnant rats. J Neuroendocrinol (2012) 24(4):690–700.10.1111/j.1365-2826.2012.02295.x
57
DuDJiangMLiuMWangJXiaCGuanRet alMicroglial P2X(7) receptor in the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei contributes to sympathoexcitatory responses in acute myocardial infarction rat. Neurosci Lett (2015) 587:22–8.10.1016/j.neulet.2014.12.026
58
Summy-LongJYHuSLongAPhillipsTM. Interleukin-1beta release in the supraoptic nucleus area during osmotic stimulation requires neural function. J Neuroendocrinol (2008) 20(11):1224–32.10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01783.x
59
FerriniMWangCSwerdloffRSSinha HikimAPRajferJGonzalez-CadavidNF. Aging-related increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cytotoxicity markers in rat hypothalamic regions associated with male reproductive function. Neuroendocrinology (2001) 74(1):1–11.10.1159/000054665
60
WangYFHattonGI. Mechanisms underlying oxytocin-induced excitation of supraoptic neurons: prostaglandin mediation of actin polymerization. J Neurophysiol (2006) 95(6):3933–47.10.1152/jn.01267.2005
61
WangSCZhangFZhuHLvCLiuXWangY-Fet alSuckling-induced burst discharges of supraoptic oxytocin neurons in rats: prostaglandin mediation of oxytocin actions. Int J Adv Res (2016) 4(7):1111–22.10.21474/IJAR01/947
62
OkereCOWangYFHiguchiTNegoroHOkutaniFTakahashiSet alThe effect of systemic and central nitric oxide administration on milk availability in lactating rats. Neuroreport (1996) 8(1):243–7.10.1097/00001756-199612200-00049
63
KelleyKWMcCuskerRH. Getting nervous about immunity. Semin Immunol (2014) 26(5):389–93.10.1016/j.smim.2014.01.011
64
CaldwellJDWalkerCHPedersenCAMasonGA. Sexual activity decreases oxytocin receptor densities in the thymus. Life Sci (1993) 52(22):1781–6.10.1016/0024-3205(93)90467-H
65
NdiayeKPooleDHPateJL. Expression and regulation of functional oxytocin receptors in bovine T lymphocytes. Biol Reprod (2008) 78(4):786–93.10.1095/biolreprod.107.065938
66
HattonGIWangYF. Neural mechanisms underlying the milk ejection burst and reflex. Prog Brain Res (2008) 170:155–66.10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00414-7
67
WangYFZhuH. [Mechanisms underlying astrocyte regulation of hypothalamic neuroendocrine neuron activity]. Sheng Li Ke Xue Jin Zhan (2014) 45(3):177–84.
68
HouDJinJLiJLianJLiuMLiuXet alModel roles of the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system in neuroscience study. Biochem Pharmacol (Los Angel) (2016) 5(211):13–28.10.4172/2167-0501.1000211
69
Summy-LongJYBuiVGestlSKadekaroM. Nitric oxide, interleukin and prostaglandin interactions affecting the magnocellular system. Brain Res (2002) 940(1–2):10–20.10.1016/S0006-8993(02)02556-8
70
BruntonPJSabatierNLengGRussellJA. Suppressed oxytocin neuron responses to immune challenge in late pregnant rats: a role for endogenous opioids. Eur J Neurosci (2006) 23(5):1241–7.10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.04614.x
71
MatelskiLVan de WaterJ. Risk factors in autism: thinking outside the brain. J Autoimmun (2016) 67:1–7.10.1016/j.jaut.2015.11.003
72
LiccardiGBiloMMauroCSalzilloAPiccoloAD’AmatoMet alOxytocin: an unexpected risk for cardiologic and broncho-obstructive effects, and allergic reactions in susceptible delivering women. Multidiscip Respir Med (2013) 8(1):67.10.1186/2049-6958-8-67
73
SajiFSamejimaYKamiuraSSawaiKShimoyaKKimuraT. Cytokine production in chorioamnionitis. J Reprod Immunol (2000) 47(2):185–96.10.1016/S0165-0378(00)00064-4
74
ChangEYZhangJSullivanSNewmanRSinghI. N-acetylcysteine prevents preterm birth by attenuating the LPS-induced expression of contractile associated proteins in an animal model. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med (2012) 25(11):2395–400.10.3109/14767058.2012.697942
75
AmraniYSyedFHuangCLiKLiuVJainDet alExpression and activation of the oxytocin receptor in airway smooth muscle cells: regulation by TNFalpha and IL-13. Respir Res (2010) 11:104.10.1186/1465-9921-11-104
76
BarnardALaytonDHinceMSakkalSBernardCChidgeyAet alImpact of the neuroendocrine system on thymus and bone marrow function. Neuroimmunomodulation (2008) 15(1):7–18.10.1159/000135619
77
QuintanarJLGuzman-SotoI. Hypothalamic neurohormones and immune responses. Front Integr Neurosci (2013) 7:56.10.3389/fnint.2013.00056
78
Quintanar-StephanoAAbarca-RojanoEJarillo-LunaRARivera-AguilarVVentura-JuarezJBercziIet alHypophysectomy and neurointermediate pituitary lobectomy decrease humoral immune responses to T-independent and T-dependent antigens. J Physiol Biochem (2010) 66(1):7–13.10.1007/s13105-010-0004-z
79
Quintanar-StephanoAHernandez-CervantesRMoreno-MendozaNEscobedoGCarreroJCNava-CastroKEet alThe endocrine-immune network during taeniosis by Taenia solium: the role of the pituitary gland. Exp Parasitol (2015) 159:233–44.10.1016/j.exppara.2015.10.003
80
CorreaSGRodriguez-GalanMCSotomayorCE. [Basic aspects of neuroendocrinoimmunology]. Rev Fac Cien Med Univ Nac Cordoba (1999) 56(2):9–20.
81
WeismullerKBauerMHoferSWeigandMA. [The neuroendocrine axis and the pathophysiology of sepsis]. Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther (2010) 45(9):574–578; quiz 579.10.1055/s-0030-1265750
82
UchoaETAguileraGHermanJPFiedlerJLDeakTde SousaMB. Novel aspects of glucocorticoid actions. J Neuroendocrinol (2014) 26(9):557–72.10.1111/jne.12157
83
DiSTaskerJG. Rapid synapse-specific regulation of hypothalamic magnocellular neurons by glucocorticoids. Prog Brain Res (2008) 170:379–88.10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00431-7
84
NeumannIDWiggerATornerLHolsboerFLandgrafR. Brain oxytocin inhibits basal and stress-induced activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in male and female rats: partial action within the paraventricular nucleus. J Neuroendocrinol (2000) 12(3):235–43.10.1046/j.1365-2826.2000.00442.x
85
WangY-FHattonGI. Oxytocin, lactation and postpartum depression. Front Neurosci (2009) 3:252–3.
86
LiuXJiaSZhangYWangY-F. Pulsatile but not tonic secretion of oxytocin plays the role of anti-precancerous lesions of the mammary glands in rat dams separated from the pups during lactation. M J Neuro (2016) 1(1):002.
87
HickeyMCDrennanMEarleyB. The effect of abrupt weaning of suckler calves on the plasma concentrations of cortisol, catecholamines, leukocytes, acute-phase proteins and in vitro interferon-gamma production. J Anim Sci (2003) 81(11):2847–55.10.2527/2003.81112847x
88
BrodSABauerV. Ingested (oral) thyrotropin releasing factor (TRH) inhibits EAE. Cytokine (2013) 61(1):323–8.10.1016/j.cyto.2012.10.015
89
MarchioriRCPereiraLANaujorksAARovarisDLMeinerzDFDuarteMMet alImprovement of blood inflammatory marker levels in patients with hypothyroidism under levothyroxine treatment. BMC Endocr Disord (2015) 15:32.10.1186/s12902-015-0032-3
90
AlaminoVAMascanfroniIDMontesinosMMGigenaNDonadioACBlidnerAGet alAntitumor responses stimulated by dendritic cells are improved by triiodothyronine binding to the thyroid hormone receptor beta. Cancer Res (2015) 75(7):1265–74.10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-1875
91
DellovadeTLZhuYSPfaffDW. Thyroid hormones and estrogen affect oxytocin gene expression in hypothalamic neurons. J Neuroendocrinol (1999) 11(1):1–10.10.1046/j.1365-2826.1999.00250.x
92
CiosekJDrobnikJ. Vasopressin and oxytocin release and the thyroid function. J Physiol Pharmacol (2004) 55(2):423–41.
93
SegnerHVerburg-van KemenadeBMChadzinskaM. The immunomodulatory role of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis: proximate mechanism for reproduction-immune trade offs?Dev Comp Immunol (2017) 66:43–60.10.1016/j.dci.2016.07.004
94
Gubbels BuppMR. Sex, the aging immune system, and chronic disease. Cell Immunol (2015) 294(2):102–10.10.1016/j.cellimm.2015.02.002
95
CaligioniCSOliverCJamurMCFranciCR. Presence of oxytocin receptors in the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurones in female rats: a possible direct action of oxytocin on GnRH neurones. J Neuroendocrinol (2007) 19(6):439–48.10.1111/j.1365-2826.2007.01550.x
96
Acevedo-RodriguezAManiSKHandaRJ. Oxytocin and estrogen receptor beta in the brain: an overview. Front Endocrinol (2015) 6:160.10.3389/fendo.2015.00160
97
LiuXYHouDWangJLvCJiaSZhangYet alExpression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in astrocytes of rat supraoptic nucleus throughout estrous cycle. Neuro Endocrinol Lett (2016) 37(1):41–5.
98
FicekW. Physiological dependency between the hypothalamus and the thymus of Wistar rats. IV. Organotypic culture of the thymus in the presence of hypophyseal hormones, vasopressin, and oxytocin. Gegenbaurs Morphol Jahrb (1983) 129(4):445–58.
99
ElandsJResinkADe KloetER. Neurohypophyseal hormone receptors in the rat thymus, spleen, and lymphocytes. Endocrinology (1990) 126(5):2703–10.10.1210/endo-126-5-2703
100
JohnsonHMTorresBA. A novel arginine vasopressin-binding peptide that blocks arginine vasopressin modulation of immune function. J Immunol (1988) 141(7):2420–3.
101
DeckerDAGrantCOhLBeckerPMYoungDJordanS. Immunomodulatory effects of H.P. Acthar Gel on B cell development in the NZB/W F1 mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus (2014) 23(8):802–12.10.1177/0961203314531840
102
SavinoWMendes-da-CruzDALepletierADardenneM. Hormonal control of T-cell development in health and disease. Nat Rev Endocrinol (2016) 12(2):77–89.10.1038/nrendo.2015.168
103
LumpkinMDSamsonWKMcCannSM. Hypothalamic and pituitary sites of action of oxytocin to alter prolactin secretion in the rat. Endocrinology (1983) 112(5):1711–7.10.1210/endo-112-5-1711
104
GeenenVLegrosJJFranchimontPBaudrihayeMDefresneMPBoniverJ. The neuroendocrine thymus: coexistence of oxytocin and neurophysin in the human thymus. Science (1986) 232(4749):508–11.10.1126/science.3961493
105
BodeyBBodeyBJrSiegelSEKaiserHE. The role of the reticulo-epithelial (RE) cell network in the immuno-neuroendocrine regulation of intrathymic lymphopoiesis. Anticancer Res (2000) 20(3A):1871–88.
106
GimplGFahrenholzF. The oxytocin receptor system: structure, function, and regulation. Physiol Rev (2001) 81(2):629–83.
107
KimuraTSajiFNishimoriKOgitaKNakamuraHKoyamaMet alMolecular regulation of the oxytocin receptor in peripheral organs. J Mol Endocrinol (2003) 30(2):109–15.10.1677/jme.0.0300109
108
GeenenVBodartGHenrySMichauxHDardenneOCharlet-RenardCet alProgramming of neuroendocrine self in the thymus and its defect in the development of neuroendocrine autoimmunity. Front Neurosci (2013) 7:187.10.3389/fnins.2013.00187
Summary
Keywords
cytokine, hormone, hypothalamus, immune, oxytocin, thymus
Citation
Li T, Wang P, Wang SC and Wang Y-F (2017) Approaches Mediating Oxytocin Regulation of the Immune System. Front. Immunol. 7:693. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00693
Received
13 November 2016
Accepted
28 December 2016
Published
10 January 2017
Volume
7 - 2016
Edited by
Kai Fang, University of California Los Angeles, USA
Reviewed by
Honoo Satake, Suntory, Japan; Salvatore Andrea Mastrolia, University of Bari, Italy; Vincent Geenen, University of Liège, Belgium
Updates
Copyright
© 2017 Li, Wang, Wang and Wang.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Yu-Feng Wang, yufengwang@ems.hrbmu.edu.cn
†These authors have contributed equally to this work.
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Inflammation, a section of the journal Frontiers in Immunology
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.