From pain to tumor immunity: influence of peripheral sensory neurons in cancer.

The nervous and immune systems are the primary sensory interfaces of the body, allowing it to recognize, process, and respond to various stimuli from both the external and internal environment. These systems work in concert through various mechanisms of neuro-immune crosstalk to detect threats, provide defense against pathogens, and maintain or restore homeostasis, but can also contribute to the development of diseases. Among peripheral sensory neurons (PSNs), nociceptive PSNs are of particular interest.

Nociceptive sensory neurons promote CD8 T cell responses to HSV-1 infection.

Host protection against cutaneous herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection relies on the induction of a robust adaptive immune response. Here, we show that Nav sensory neurons, which are involved in pain perception, control the magnitude of CD8 T cell priming and expansion in HSV-1-infected mice. The ablation of Nav-expressing sensory neurons is associated with extensive skin lesions characterized by enhanced inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production.

Blockade of β-Adrenergic Receptors Improves CD8 T-cell Priming and Cancer Vaccine Efficacy.

β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling exerts protumoral effects by acting directly on tumor cells and angiogenesis. In addition, β-AR expression on immune cells affects their ability to mount antitumor immune responses. However, how β-AR signaling impinges antitumor immune responses is still unclear.