Bo Hu Lab

About the Hu lab

Molecular components of the nervous system and the immune system are in constant communication, ensuring homeostasis and keeping systemic inflammation in check. However, when this communication breaks down, neuroimmune disorders and peripheral tissue inflammation can ensue. Furthermore, these lines of communication can be usurped by malignant cells, aiding in the suppression of anti-tumor responses. Our work is focused on understanding the molecular interplay occurring between the nervous system and the immune system and determining how these interactions play a role in health and diseases such as cancer.

In the news

How tumours trick the brain into shutting down cancer-fighting cells

The team

The Hu team is a diverse group of scientists interested in neuro-immunology and immunometabolism

Meet the team

Our research summary

A complex relationship

Communication between the brain and the immune system is complex and bidirectional — with immune cells influencing brain functions and vice versa. For example, the brain quickly senses and responds to changes in peripheral immunity, such as increased inflammation, and the brain also facilitates regulatory responses to immune cells to promote cellular homeostasis. However, these neuroimmune interactions also play a role in the development and progression of pathophysiology

Neuroimmune interactions and cancer

Nerves innervate solid tumors, which influences tumor progression and, in some cases, prognosis. Studies have shown that poor prognosis is highly linked to tumor innervation, highlighting the importance of neuroimmune pathways. Our laboratory recently provided data for a collaborative study which showed that tumor cells hijack the vagus nerve signaling pathway to suppress a tumoricidal immune cell response. Furthermore, the study showed that genetically inactivating sensory neurons associated with the vagus nerve decreased tumor growth substantially. These results provide direct evidence that nerves can and do play a role in tumorigenesis.

To build on this understanding, we use myriad approaches including CRISPR, spatial omics and sophisticated genetic tools to identify neuronal circuits that are activated in response to specific sensory nervous system triggers. This information will aid in determining how tumors are sensed, identify areas of vulnerability that tumors use to commandeer the immune system, and help us develop therapeutics to halt that process.

We are also interested in understanding the molecular nature of tumor-associated immune cells. By identifying the unique molecular features of these molecules, we will advance our understanding of cancer regulation and can potentially leverage that information to develop therapeutics.

Neuroimmune interactions and metabolism

Our laboratory is also interested in the bi-directional communication between the sympathetic nervous system and the immune system as it relates to metabolic diseases. By studying the crosstalk between lymphocytes, neurons and adipocytes in a thermogenic adipose tissue model system, we showed that γδT cells and adipocyte IL-17RC promote sympathetic innervation in mice. This newly discovered immune-regulatory mechanism of innervation in adipose tissue could help us understand how to modulate thermogenic fat activity, leading to potential treatments for metabolic disorders.