Neural regulation of pulmonary immunity

The mammalian respiratory tract is densely innervated by sensory and autonomic neurons. Nociceptor sensory neurons regulate cough and bronchoconstriction. We are investigating how these neurons also regulate the immune response during infectious and inflammatory challenges to the respiratory tract We found that TRPV1+ vagal sensory neurons regulated the outcome of lethal S. aureus pneumonia. Nociceptors regulated innate immunity during infection through release of the neuropeptide CGRP, which inhibited proinflammatory cytokine production, gd T cells and neutrophil recruitment. Therefore, nociceptors play a critical role in host-pathogen defense against bacterial pathogens in the gut lungs, and a better understanding of the role of neurons in host immunity could lead to treatments for inflammation.

Publications on this topic:

1. Baral P, Umans BD, Li Lu, Wallrapp A, Bist M, Kirschbaum T, Wei Y, Zhou Y, Kuchroo VK, Burkett PR, Yipp BG, Liberles SD, Chiu IM. Nociceptor sensory neurons suppress neutrophil and gd T cell responses in bacterial lung infections and lethal pneumonia. Nature Medicine. 2018 May;24(4):417-426. PMCID: PMC6263165.  PDF