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 through your institution

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

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

$39.99 / 30 days cancel any time

Learn more

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year only $3.90 per issue

Learn more

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

$1.95 to $39.95

Learn more

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": "NEWS 01 May 2024 Scientists identify the brain cells that regulate...",
"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": "<article>\n <div>\n <div>\n <div>\n <ul>\n <li><span>NEWS</span></li>\n <li>\n 01 May 2024\n </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 <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/saved-research\">\n <span>View saved research</span>\n </a>\n </p>\n </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 <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\t<div>\n\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals</p>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription</p>\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>$39.99 <span>/ 30 days</span></span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>cancel any time</span>\n\t\t\t\t\t</p>\n\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://shop-amers.nature.com/products/plus/?region=US\">Learn more</a>\n\t\t\t</section>\n\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Subscribe to this journal</p>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Receive 51 print issues and online access</p>\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>$199.00 <span>per year</span></span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>only $3.90 per issue</span>\n\t\t\t\t\t</p>\n\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/nature/subscribe\">Learn more</a>\n\t\t\t</section>\n\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Rent or buy this article</p>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Prices vary by article type</p>\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>$1.95 <span>to</span> $39.95</span>\n\t\t\t\t\t</p>\n\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2.epdf?no_publisher_access=1&amp;r3_referer=nature\">Learn more</a>\n\t\t\t</section>\n\t\t\t<p>Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout</p>\n\t\t</div>\n <h3>Additional access options:</h3>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://idp.nature.com/auth/personal/springernature?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=&amp;publicationDate=2024-05-01&amp;publisherName=SpringerNature&amp;orderBeanReset=true\">Reprints and permissions</a></p>\n </div>\n <div>\n <h2>Related Articles</h2>\n <ul>\n <li>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01330-y\">\n <img src=\"https://media.springernature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01330-y/d41586-024-01330-y_17300602.png\" />\n Daily briefing: Why exercise is good for us\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.springernature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-022-01502-8/d41586-022-01502-8_22965224.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/d41586-024-01636-x\">\n <img src=\"https://media.springernature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-024-01636-x/d41586-024-01636-x_27197946.png\" />\n Brain senses immune reactions in the body through the vagus nerve\n </a>\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <p>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01655-2\">\n <img src=\"https://media.springernature.com/lw100/magazine-assets/d41586-025-01655-2/d41586-025-01655-2_51028546.jpg\" />\n How the brain spies on the gut: with help from newfound immune cells\n </a>\n </p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </div>\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/d41586-026-03343-1\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-03343-1/d41586-026-03343-1_53916280.jpg\" />\n <p>Is social media changing children’s brains? Here’s what the science says</p>\n <p><span>Spotlight</span> <span>04 NOV 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03271-0\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-03271-0/d41586-026-03271-0_53921166.jpg\" />\n <p>Fruit, flies and getting frisky: how food odours trigger sexual arousal</p>\n <p><span>News &amp; Views</span> <span>04 NOV 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03566-2\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-03566-2/d41586-026-03566-2_53930466.jpg\" />\n <p>Epileptic seizures nearly vanish after people receive experimental gene therapy in their brains</p>\n <p><span>News</span> <span>04 NOV 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/d41586-026-03580-4\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-03580-4/d41586-026-03580-4_53934036.jpg\" />\n <p>Mysterious anthrax outbreak kills hippos in Africa — raising concerns for human spread</p>\n <p><span>News</span> <span>04 NOV 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03387-3\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-03387-3/d41586-026-03387-3_53903956.jpg\" />\n <p>Measles made a stealthy return as another virus took the spotlight</p>\n <p><span>Research Highlight</span> <span>02 NOV 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03488-z\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-03488-z/d41586-026-03488-z_53913102.jpg\" />\n <p>Dengue comes back even in vaccinated people — new clues</p>\n <p><span>News</span> <span>28 OCT 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/d41586-026-03173-1\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-03173-1/d41586-026-03173-1_53930460.jpg\" />\n <p>Parkinson’s: beyond the brain</p>\n <p><span>Outlook</span> <span>04 NOV 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03171-3\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-03171-3/d41586-026-03171-3_53914570.jpg\" />\n <p>How the brain protects itself from Parkinson’s disease</p>\n <p><span>Outlook</span> <span>04 NOV 26</span></p>\n </a>\n </li>\n <li>\n <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03165-1\">\n <img src=\"https://images.nature.com/w140h79/magazine-assets/d41586-026-03165-1/d41586-026-03165-1_53913638.jpg\" />\n <p>Progress accelerates in Parkinson’s treatments</p>\n <p><span>Outlook</span> <span>04 NOV 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/12864821/talent-recruitment-announcement-at-the-college-of-artificial-intelligence/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Talent Recruitment Announcement at the College of Artificial Intelligence</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/12866483/associate-or-senior-editor-optical-physics-nature-progress-optics-and-photonics/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Associate or Senior Editor (optical physics), Nature Progress Optics &amp; Photonics</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>Title: Associate or Senior Editor (optical physics), Nature Progress Optics &amp; Photonics Location: Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, New Delhi or Pune – h...</p>\n <p>Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, New Delhi or Pune – hybrid working model</p>\n <p>Springer Nature Ltd</p>\n </div>\n </div>\n <p><img src=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/getasset/121465b9-8274-400b-b7a9-ebfcc5a13127/\" />\n </p>\n </li>\n <li>\n <div>\n <h4><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/12858734/assistant-professor-positions-at-city-university-of-hong-kong-dongguan-/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Assistant Professor Positions at City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>The University invites individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply for faculty positions in this field</p>\n <p>Dongguan, Guangdong, China</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/12858732/professor-associate-professor-positions-at-city-university-of-hong-kong-dongguan-/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Professor / Associate Professor Positions at City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>The University invites individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply for faculty positions in this field</p>\n <p>Dongguan, Guangdong, China</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/12858731/chair-professor-positions-at-city-university-of-hong-kong-dongguan-/?TrackID=62&amp;utm_source=widget&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=62\">Chair Professor Positions at City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan)</a></h4>\n <div>\n <p>The University invites individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply for faculty positions in this field</p>\n <p>Dongguan, Guangdong, China</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 </div>\n </article>",
"author": "Guglielmi, Giorgia",
"favicon": "https://www.nature.com/oscar-static/images/favicons/nature/favicon.ico",
"source": "nature.com",
"published": "2024-05-01",
"ttr": 117,
"type": "article"
}