August 1, 2024Open Access

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

Key Points

Regulatory T cells are influenced by Trpv1-expressing neurons in the gut, affecting immune responses.
Activation of eight distinct neuronal subsets led to varied immune perturbations observed in immunocyte profiles.
Research utilized chemogenetic techniques alongside deep immunophenotyping and microbiome analysis.
Findings underline the importance of neuronal-immune communication in maintaining gut health and homeostasis.

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 (T

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