Found: The dial in the brain that controls the immune system

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2
  • NEWS
  • 01 May 2024

Scientists identify the brain cells that regulate inflammation, and pinpoint how they keep tabs on the immune response.

By

  1. Giorgia Guglielmi
    1. Giorgia Guglielmi is a science journalist in Basel, Switzerland.

Scientists have long known that the brain plays a part in the immune system — but how it does so has been a mystery. Now, scientists have identified cells in the brainstem that sense immune cues from the periphery of the body and act as master regulators of the body’s inflammatory response.

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

$32.99 / 30 days

cancel any time

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01259-2

References

  1. Jin, H., Li, M., Jeong, E., Castro-Martinez, F. & Zuker, C. S. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07469-y (2024).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

{
"by": "andreareina",
"descendants": 4,
"id": 40243417,
"kids": [
40243718,
40244904,
40245202
],
"score": 45,
"time": 1714703500,
"title": "Found: The dial in the brain that controls the immune system",
"type": "story",
"url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2"
}
{
"author": "Giorgia Guglielmi",
"date": "2024-05-01T00:00:00.000Z",
"description": "Scientists identify the brain cells that regulate inflammation, and pinpoint how they keep tabs on the immune response.",
"image": "https://media.nature.com/lw1200/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01259-2/d41586-024-01259-2_27034294.jpg",
"logo": null,
"publisher": "Nature",
"title": "Found: the dial in the brain that controls the immune system",
"url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2"
}
{
"url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2",
"title": "Found: the dial in the brain that controls the immune system",
"description": "Scientists identify the brain cells that regulate inflammation, and pinpoint how they keep tabs on the immune response. Scientists identify the brain cells that regulate inflammation, and pinpoint how they keep tabs on the immune response.",
"links": [
"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2"
],
"image": "https://media.nature.com/lw1200/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01259-2/d41586-024-01259-2_27034294.jpg",
"content": "<div>\n <article>\n<div>\n <div>\n <ul>\n <li><span>NEWS</span></li>\n <li>01 May 2024</li>\n </ul>\n <div>\n <p>\n Scientists identify the brain cells that regulate inflammation, and pinpoint how they keep tabs on the immune response.\n </p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <div>\n <p><span>By</span></p><ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2#author-0\">\n Giorgia Guglielmi</a><sup><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2#Aff0\">0</a></sup></li>\n</ul>\n<div>\n <ol>\n <li>\n <span>Giorgia Guglielmi</span>\n <ol>\n <li>\n <p>Giorgia Guglielmi is a science journalist in Basel, Switzerland.</p>\n </li>\n </ol>\n <div>\n <div><p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/search?author=Giorgia+Guglielmi\">View author publications</a></p></div>\n <div>\n <p>\n <span>Search author on:</span>\n <span><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=search&amp;term=Giorgia+Guglielmi\">PubMed</a>\n <span> </span><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?as_q=&amp;btnG=Search+Scholar&amp;as_sauthors=%22Giorgia%2BGuglielmi%22\">Google Scholar</a>\n </span></p>\n </div>\n </div>\n </li>\n </ol>\n</div>\n </div>\n <div>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Found:%20the%20dial%20in%20the%20brain%20that%20controls%20the%20immune%20system&amp;body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2\">\n <span>Email</span>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Found%3A+the+dial+in+the+brain+that+controls+the+immune+system%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2\">\n <span>Bluesky</span>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2&amp;t=Found%3A+the+dial+in+the+brain+that+controls+the+immune+system\">\n <span>Facebook</span>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?text=Found%3A+the+dial+in+the+brain+that+controls+the+immune+system&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2\">\n <span>LinkedIn</span>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.reddit.com/submit?title=Found%3A+the+dial+in+the+brain+that+controls+the+immune+system&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2\">\n <span>Reddit</span>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://wa.me/?text=Found%3A+the+dial+in+the+brain+that+controls+the+immune+system%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2\">\n <span>Whatsapp</span>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Found%3A+the+dial+in+the+brain+that+controls+the+immune+system&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2\">\n <span>X</span>\n </a>\n </li>\n</ul>\n </div>\n</div>\n <div>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://wayf.springernature.com/?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2\">\n <span>Access through your institution</span>\n </a>\n </p>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2#access-options\">\n <span>Buy or subscribe</span>\n </a>\n </p></div>\n </div>\n <p>Scientists have long known that <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00509-z\">the brain plays a part in the immune system</a> — but how it does so has been a mystery. Now, scientists have identified cells in the brainstem that sense <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01396-y\">immune cues from the periphery of the body</a> and act as master regulators of the body’s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00871-6\">inflammatory response</a>.</p>\n <div>\n <h2 id=\"access-options\">Access options</h2>\n <div>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://wayf.springernature.com/?redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2\">\n <span>Access through your institution</span>\n </a>\n </p>\n </div>\n <section><div>\n <p>\n Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals\n </p>\n <p>\n Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription\n </p>\n <div>\n <p>\n <span>$32.99<span> / 30 days</span></span>\n </p>\n <p>cancel any time</p>\n </div>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://shop-amers.nature.com/products/plus/?region=US\"><span>Learn more</span></a>\n </p></div>\n </div><div>\n <p>Subscribe to this journal</p>\n <p>\n Receive 51 print issues and online access\n </p>\n <div>\n <p>$199.00 per year</p>\n <p>only $3.90 per issue</p>\n </div>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/nature/subscribe\"><span>Learn more</span></a>\n </p></div>\n </div><div>\n <p>Rent or buy this article</p>\n <p>Prices vary by article type</p>\n <p><span>from</span>$1.95</p>\n <p><span>to</span>$39.95</p>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2.epdf?no_publisher_access=1&amp;r3_referer=nature\"><span>Learn more</span></a>\n </p></div>\n </div><p>Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout</p></section>\n <h3>Additional access options:</h3>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://idp.nature.com/authorize/natureuser?client_id=grover&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fd41586-024-01259-2\">Log in</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.springernature.com/gp/librarians/licensing/license-options\">Learn about institutional subscriptions</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://support.nature.com/en/support/home\">Read our FAQs</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.springernature.com/gp/contact\">Contact customer support</a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </div>\n <p><em>doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01259-2</em></p>\n <div><h2 id=\"Bib1\">References</h2><div><ol><li><p>Jin, H., Li, M., Jeong, E., Castro-Martinez, F. &amp; Zuker, C. S. <i>Nature</i> https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07469-y (2024).</p><p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41586-024-07469-y\">Article</a> \n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?&amp;title=&amp;journal=Nature&amp;doi=10.1038%2Fs41586-024-07469-y&amp;publication_year=2024&amp;author=Jin%2CH.&amp;author=Li%2CM.&amp;author=Jeong%2CE.&amp;author=Castro-Martinez%2CF.&amp;author=Zuker%2CC.%20S.\">\n Google Scholar</a> \n </p></li></ol><p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://citation-needed.springer.com/v2/references/10.1038/d41586-024-01259-2?format=refman&amp;flavour=references\">Download references</a></p></div></div>\n <div>\n <p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://s100.copyright.com/AppDispatchServlet?title=Found%3A%20the%20dial%20in%20the%20brain%20that%20controls%20the%20immune%20system&amp;author=Giorgia%20Guglielmi&amp;contentID=10.1038%2Fd41586-024-01259-2&amp;copyright=Springer%20Nature%20Limited&amp;publication=0028-0836&amp;publicationDate=2024-05-01&amp;publisherName=SpringerNature&amp;orderBeanReset=true\">Reprints and permissions</a></p>\n </div>\n <h2 id=\"related-articles\">Related Articles</h2>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00509-z\">\n <img src=\"https://media.nature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01259-2/d41586-024-01259-2_24096670.jpg\" />\n Your brain could be controlling how sick you get — and how you recover\n </a>\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01502-8\">\n <img src=\"https://media.nature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01259-2/d41586-024-01259-2_24045344.jpg\" />\n Guardians of the brain: how a special immune system protects our grey matter\n </a>\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00169-7\">\n <img src=\"https://media.nature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01259-2/d41586-024-01259-2_26671374.jpg\" />\n Can autoimmune diseases be cured? Scientists see hope at last\n </a>\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00584-2\">\n <img src=\"https://media.nature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01259-2/d41586-024-01259-2_24096666.jpg\" />\n Anxiety can be created by the body, mouse heart study suggests\n </a>\n </p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n <h2 id=\"subjects\">Subjects</h2>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/subjects/brain\">Brain</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/subjects/immunology\">Immunology</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/subjects/neuroscience\">Neuroscience</a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n <section>\n <h2 id=\"tablist-heading\">Latest on:</h2>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2#latest-content-0-container\">Brain</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2#latest-content-1-container\">Immunology</a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2#latest-content-2-container\">Neuroscience</a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n <section>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01053-2\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-01053-2/d41586-026-01053-2_52258086.jpg\" />\n <p>Your brain on drugs: different psychedelics work in surprisingly similar ways</p>\n <p><span>News</span> <span>07 APR 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00806-3\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-00806-3/d41586-026-00806-3_52231800.jpg\" />\n <p>Super-potent opioids could be safer-than-expected alternatives to conventional painkillers</p>\n <p><span>News &amp; Views</span> <span>01 APR 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00982-2\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-00982-2/d41586-026-00982-2_52216272.jpg\" />\n <p>Eye drops made from pig semen deliver cancer treatment to mice</p>\n <p><span>News</span> <span>27 MAR 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </section>\n <section>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01011-y\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-01011-y/d41586-026-01011-y_52237652.jpg\" />\n <p>‘Treasure trove’ of antiviral proteins could inspire powerful molecular tools</p>\n <p><span>News</span> <span>02 APR 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01015-8\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-01015-8/d41586-026-01015-8_52232550.jpg\" />\n <p>Why some cancer-fighting immune cells lose their strength inside tumours</p>\n <p><span>News</span> <span>02 APR 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10304-1\">\n <img src=\"https://media.nature.com/w140h79/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41586-026-10304-1/MediaObjects/41586_2026_10304_Fig1_HTML.png\" />\n <p>Electric dipole moment drives the dynamics of the TNFR1 complex I signalosome</p>\n <p><span>Article</span> <span>01 APR 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </section>\n <section>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01093-8\">\n <p>Don’t rush use of lymphatic surgery in Alzheimer’s disease</p>\n <p><span>Correspondence</span> <span>07 APR 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01023-8\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-01023-8/d41586-026-01023-8_52228310.jpg\" />\n <p>Is social media addictive? Why a formal diagnosis is still out of reach</p>\n <p><span>World View</span> <span>01 APR 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10301-4\">\n <img src=\"https://media.nature.com/w140h79/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41586-026-10301-4/MediaObjects/41586_2026_10301_Fig1_HTML.png\" />\n <p>Dopaminergic mechanisms of dynamical social specialization</p>\n <p><span>Article</span> <span>01 APR 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </section>\n</section>\n <div>\n <div>\n <h2>\n <img src=\"https://www.nature.com/static/images/logos/nature-careers-logo-3c89275050.svg\" alt=\"Nature Careers\" />\n </h2>\n </div>\n <h3>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/\">Jobs\n </a>\n </h3>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12856815/global-talent-recruitment-announcement-of-the-college-of-engineering-hzau/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Global Talent Recruitment Announcement of the College of Engineering, HZAU</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>Join HZAU's global faculty team to advance research with competitive benefits.</p>\n <p>Wuhan, Hubei (CN)</p>\n <p>Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU)</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/0cbac729-18c4-4ffc-a399-1725cb26824b/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12854418/assistant-professor-teaching-computer-science-and-data-science/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Assistant Professor (teaching) - Computer Science and Data Science</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>This field encompasses Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and related interdisciplinary areas</p>\n <p>Dongguan, Guangdong</p>\n <p>City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/d9dfdfa6-19a6-4507-8344-cf4b96ef1363/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12854417/assistant-professor-teaching-electronic-engineering/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Assistant Professor (teaching) - Electronic Engineering</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>​​​​​​​Aspiring to be a global leader in electrical engineering education and research</p>\n <p>Dongguan, Guangdong</p>\n <p>City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/d9dfdfa6-19a6-4507-8344-cf4b96ef1363/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12854415/assistant-professor-teaching-intelligent-manufacturing-and-systems-engineering/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Assistant Professor (teaching) - Intelligent Manufacturing and Systems Engineering</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>Discipline, including, but not limited to: Intelligent Manufacturing Engineering, Intelligent Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Engineering Management.</p>\n <p>Dongguan, Guangdong</p>\n <p>City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/d9dfdfa6-19a6-4507-8344-cf4b96ef1363/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12854414/assistant-professor-teaching-business-and-finance/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Assistant Professor (teaching) - Business and Finance</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>Aimed at nurturing the next generation of business leaders</p>\n <p>Dongguan, Guangdong</p>\n <p>City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/d9dfdfa6-19a6-4507-8344-cf4b96ef1363/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </div>\n </article>\n </div>",
"author": "Guglielmi, Giorgia",
"favicon": "https://www.nature.com/static/images/favicons/nature/favicon.ico",
"source": "nature.com",
"published": "2024-05-01",
"ttr": 111,
"type": "article"
}