Highlights of IMMUNOLOGY2026™ - Invited Program Recordings-Sympathetic nerves regulate T cell differentiation in viral infection and cancer

Sympathetic nerves regulate T cell differentiation in viral infection and cancer

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Anna-Maria Goldbeck presented research on how the sympathetic nervous system shapes T-cell fate in chronic viral infection and cancer. Her work shows that exhausted CD8 T cells localize near sympathetic nerves and express the beta-1 adrenergic receptor ADRB1, making them responsive to noradrenaline. In mouse and human studies, higher ADRB1 expression correlated with T-cell exhaustion. Overexpressing ADRB1 pushed T cells toward an exhausted state, while deleting ADRB1 prevented terminal exhaustion and altered T-cell positioning away from nerves.  <br /><br />In cancer models, blocking beta-adrenergic signaling improved checkpoint therapy. Atenolol helped in “hot” melanoma, while propranolol, which blocks both ADRB1 and ADRB2, was needed to enhance therapy in “cold” pancreatic cancer. This combination increased functional, TRM-like T cells and reduced tumor growth. Goldbeck concluded that neuroimmune signaling offers promising new therapeutic targets.

Keywords

sympathetic nervous system

T-cell exhaustion

ADRB1

beta-adrenergic signaling

checkpoint therapy

cancer immunotherapy