Cell https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.06.022 (2019)

TRVP1+ peripheral sensory neurons are specialized to detect pain and respond to pathogen-associated molecules such a Candida albican beta glucan and bacterial toxins and are required for the initiation of type 17 inflammation. In Cell, Kaplan and colleagues show that optogenetic stimulation of the TRPV1+ neurons is sufficient to trigger type 17 inflammation in the skin in the absence of additional damage- or pathogen-associated stimuli. The inflammatory response is characterized by the infiltration of γδ T cells, CD4+ T cells and neutrophils and secretion of the cytokines IL-23, IL-6 and TNF and is dependent on release of the neuropeptide CGRPα from the TRPV1+ neurons and on IL-17A. Activation of TRPV1+ neurons via optogenetic stimuli or infection with C. albicans induces a nerve reflex that triggers the production of type 17 cytokines and provides increased immunity to C. albicans at adjacent sites, indicative of anticipatory immunity to infection.