The Role of Sympathetic Nerves in T Cell Exhaustion and Suppression

A new study has found that the β1-adrenergic receptor, which links sympathetic nerves to immune cells, plays a crucial role in T-cell exhaustion. T-cell exhaustion is a state of dysfunction that limits the immune response against cancer and chronic infections. The researchers discovered that blocking the β1-adrenergic receptor improved T-cell priming and enhanced the efficacy of cancer vaccines. This finding provides insights into the mechanisms of T-cell exhaustion and suggests potential therapeutic targets for improving immune responses in cancer immunotherapy.