Neuroimmunology combines the study of the nervous system and immunology, seeking to better understand the interactions of these two complex systems during development, homeostasis, and injury response. There are many interactions involving the nervous and immune systems, including the physiological functioning of the two systems in health and disease, or the malfunction of one or both systems, and environmental stress factors that affect the two systems
Autoimmune diseases (ADs) have a complex genetic background and multiple genes can contribute to disease risk. ADs are likely induced by interactions between genetic elements and epigenetic changes caused by environmental factors including infections. Indeed, epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in disrupting immune tolerance and inducing autoreactive responses.