To be or not to be direct: The role of neuromedin U in neuro-eosinophil crosstalk

Ruichao Liu, Wenhao Shao, Jun Xu, Coco Chu. Sci Bull (Beijing). 2024 Jan 30;69(2):148-150. doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.11.056.

Schematic of the role of neuromedin U in neuro-eosinophil crosstalk

With the development of new experimental techniques (e.g., single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), light sheet microscopy, and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)), emerging studies have begun to uncover the interactions between the nervous system and the immune system, both in health and diseases.

For example, in mucosal tissues such as the lung and the intestine, neurotransmitters including acetylcholine [1] and adrenaline [2] can directly regulate the immune cell functions thus affect the results of allergy, asthma, and anti-pathogen host defense [3].

The neuropeptide neuromedin U (NMU) also plays critical roles in regulating immune responses [3]. It is widely distributed and with the highest peripheral tissue expression in the gastrointestinal tract [4]...

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