IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-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 influences T cells during chronic viral infection and cancer. Her team found that exhausted CD8 T cells localize near sympathetic nerves in infected spleens and tumors, and that these cells express the noradrenaline receptor ADRB1. Activating ADRB1 promoted T-cell exhaustion: reduced proliferation, weaker TCR signaling, less cytokine production, and more inhibitory markers. In contrast, deleting ADRB1 prevented terminal exhaustion and altered T-cell positioning away from nerves.  <br /><br />In tumors, blocking beta-adrenergic signaling improved anti-tumor immunity. Atenolol helped checkpoint therapy in melanoma, while propranolol, which blocks both ADRB1 and ADRB2, was effective in pancreatic cancer when combined with checkpoint blockade. This combination increased functional T cells and induced TRM-like gene programs. Goldbeck concluded that neuroimmune communication is a promising therapeutic target and that her lab will study how nerves shape T-cell behavior in different disease contexts.

Meta Tag

Date April 16, 2026 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Room 102

Session AAI ASPIRE Awards Symposium

Speaker Anna-Maria Globig

Track Lymphocyte Differentiation and Peripheral Maintenance (LYM)

Year 2026

Keywords

sympathetic nervous system

CD8 T cells

ADRB1

T-cell exhaustion

beta-adrenergic signaling

checkpoint blockade

April 16, 2026 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

102

AAI ASPIRE Awards Symposium

Anna-Maria Globig

Lymphocyte Differentiation and Peripheral Maintenance (LYM)

2026