Cell solves a problem 150 years ago!

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There is increasing evidence in iNature that the brain regulates peripheral immunity, but whether and how the brain represents the state of the immune system remains unclear
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On November 8, 2021, the Asya Rolls team of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology published a research paper titled "Insular cortex neurons encode and retrieve specific immune responses" online in Cell, which showed that the insular cortex (InsCtx) of the brain is related to storage and immunity.
Information
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 Using activity-dependent cell markers (FosTRAP) in mice, this study captured the collection of neurons in InsCtx that were active under two different inflammatory conditions (dextran sodium sulfate [DSS]-induced colitis and zymosan-induced Peritonitis)
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The chemical reactivation of these neuronal collections is sufficient to broadly restore the inflammatory state in which these neurons were trapped
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Therefore, the study shows that the brain can store and retrieve specific immune responses, extending the classical concept of immune memory to neuronal representation of inflammation information
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More and more data show that the brain can affect immunity, such as the effects of stress, stroke, and the reward system activity of the peripheral immune system
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However, the understanding of this neuroimmune interaction is still limited
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It is important to not know how the brain evaluates and represents the state of the immune system
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As the central regulator, the brain is likely to receive feedback from any system it controls, and thus form a sign of the immune system
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This concept is supported by several pieces of evidence
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First, anatomically, the brain receives immune-related information through sensory input from peripheral immune organs (such as the spleen and lymph nodes); second, the brain responds to peripheral immune stress: for example, neuroimaging studies have found that specific Increased activation of brain regions (such as the amygdala, hypothalamus, brainstem, thalamus, and insular cortex [InsCtx]); finally, the immune system has been shown to correlate specific immune responses (such as immunosuppression) with external cues Respond to immune regulation so that the presentation of a single clue can trigger an immune response
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This shows that the brain encodes immune-related information
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In addition, disease studies have identified specific brain areas that are required for immune regulation, especially InsCtx
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However, there has never been a direct proof of the existence of such immune signatures in the brain
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The research aims to test the existence of immune-related information in the brain and determine its correlation with immune regulation
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The study assumes that InsCtx, especially the rear InsCtx, is suitable to contain the immune system
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This area is considered to be the main cortex for internal perception (that is, the perception of the physical state of the body) and integrates information about body sensations, such as pain, hunger, and visceral signals
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Although immune-related information is not a traditional aspect of endosensory, it can provide an important indication of the physiological state of the organism
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In addition, InsCtx can collect immune-related information very well because it receives input from peripheral neurons that respond to immune signals
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Finally, as mentioned earlier, disease studies have shown that InsCtx is essential for immune regulation
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 The study showed that the insular cortex (InsCtx) of the brain stores immune-related information
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 Using activity-dependent cell markers (FosTRAP) in mice, this study captured the collection of neurons in InsCtx that were active under two different inflammatory conditions (dextran sodium sulfate [DSS]-induced colitis and zymosan-induced Peritonitis)
.

The chemical reactivation of these neuronal collections is sufficient to broadly restore the inflammatory state in which these neurons were trapped
.

Therefore, the study shows that the brain can store and retrieve specific immune responses, extending the classical concept of immune memory to neuronal representation of inflammation information
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A basic question is the nature of the evolutionary advantage of organisms in encoding such detailed and specific immune information
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One possibility is that the brain, which constantly records external cues (such as location and smell), will also record its own response to these experiences as a means to make more effective anticipatory immune responses to repeated stimuli
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However, this potentially beneficial physiological response may also lead to maladaptive situations
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For example, it was shown about 150 years ago that patients who were allergic to pollen with artificial flowers were sufficient to induce allergic reactions
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In addition, many intestinal-related diseases are considered to be physical diseases in etiology, induced by emotionally prominent experiences
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Limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms of such diseases hinders the effectiveness of currently available clinical interventions
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The results of this study reveal the potential of inhibiting InsCtx activity as a means of inhibiting peripheral inflammation
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Therefore, this study adds another perspective to understand these pathological conditions and may be a way of therapeutic intervention
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