Neuro-Immune Interactions: Pain, Inflammation, Peptides & Healing | Isaac Chiu | Episode 303

Send us Fan MailHow the nervous and immune systems communicate, using peptides and other signals, to regulate pain, itch, and inflammation.TOPICS DISCUSSED:Nociception & Pathogens: Sensory neurons detect bacterial toxins within seconds, enabling rapid host-defense coordination ahead of immune-cell recruitment.CGRP & neutrophils: Nociceptor-release the peptide CGRP, which blocks neutrophil (immune cell) recruitment; pathogens exploit this in necrotizing fasciitis and meningitis.Pain sensitization: Inflammation can lower neuronal thresholds for pain, which sometimes becomes a chronic problem.Gut barrier protection: CGRP from gut nociceptors drives goblet-cell mucus secretion, supporting the protective “weep and sweep” response.Skin-to-gut allergy priming: Early skin exposure to allergens plus scratching may promote food allergies.Vagus nerve circuits: Distinct vagal sensory neurons selectively suppress TNF or induce IL-10, allowing precise inflammatory control.Brain inflammatory memory: Insular neurons encode site-specific immune responses that can later be recalled by reactivating those circuits. The brain remembers past inflammatory events.ABOUT THE GUEST: Isaac Chiu, PhD is a professor in the Department of Immunology at Harvard Medical School. His lab studies nervous-immune system crosstalk in pain, itch, infection, and inflammatory disease.RELATED CONTENT:Article | Inflammation Regulation by Omega Fats: How High ω-6 Intake Impacts ω-3 LevelsSupport the showSupport my work:Good Chemistry: Personalized, science-based health consulting. Work with Dr. Nick Jikomes directly.Affiliate Partners: Visit this link to see my affiliate partners and get discounts codes for products & services to support health.For all the ways you can support my efforts.