免疫细胞分泌的细胞因子对下丘脑－垂体－肾上腺（ＨＰＡ）轴有调节作用；ＨＰＡ轴的产物ＡＣＴＨ和糖皮质激素又可反馈抑制细胞因子的产生。细胞因子和ＨＰＡ轴之间存在着精细的神经免疫内分泌调节环路。该环路调控失衡，在疾病发生发展上可能起重要作用。 Cytokines secreted by immune cells have a regulatory effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; the production of ACTH and glucocorticoid, a product of the HPA axis, can in turn inhibit the production of cytokines. There is a fine loop of neuroimmunoendocrine regulation between the cytokines and the HPA axis. The imbalance in the regulation of the loop may play an important role in the development of the disease.