A chemogenetic screen reveals that Trpv1-expressing neurons control regulatory T cells in the gut

Science. 2024 Aug 2;385(6708):eadk1679. doi: 10.1126/science.adk1679. Epub 2024 Aug 2.

Abstract

Neuroimmune cross-talk participates in intestinal tissue homeostasis and host defense. However, the matrix of interactions between arrays of molecularly defined neuron subsets and of immunocyte lineages remains unclear. We used a chemogenetic approach to activate eight distinct neuronal subsets, assessing effects by deep immunophenotyping, microbiome profiling, and immunocyte transcriptomics in intestinal organs. Distinct immune perturbations followed neuronal activation: Nitrergic neurons regulated T helper 17 (TH17)-like cells, and cholinergic neurons regulated neutrophils. Nociceptor neurons, expressing Trpv1, elicited the broadest immunomodulation, inducing changes in innate lymphocytes, macrophages, and RORγ+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. Neuroanatomical, genetic, and pharmacological follow-up showed that Trpv1+ neurons in dorsal root ganglia decreased Treg cell numbers via the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Given the role of these neurons in nociception, these data potentially link pain signaling with gut Treg cell function.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide* / genetics
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide* / metabolism
  • Cholinergic Neurons / metabolism
  • Ganglia, Spinal* / cytology
  • Ganglia, Spinal* / metabolism
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Intestines / cytology
  • Intestines / immunology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neuroimmunomodulation*
  • Nociception
  • Nociceptors* / metabolism
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory* / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory* / metabolism
  • TRPV Cation Channels* / genetics
  • TRPV Cation Channels* / metabolism
  • Th17 Cells* / immunology

Substances

  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • TRPV1 protein, mouse