A neuroimmune pathway drives bacterial infection

Sci Adv. 2025 May 2;11(18):eadr2226. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr2226. Epub 2025 May 2.

Abstract

Pathogen-induced septic death presents a substantial public health challenge, with its neuroimmune mechanisms largely unexplored. Our study investigates neurotransmitter modulation of ACOD1 expression, a regulator of immunometabolism activated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Screening neurotransmitters identifies dopamine as a potent inhibitor of LPS-induced ACOD1 expression in innate immune cells. Mechanistically, DRD2 forms a complex with TLR4, initiating MAPK3-dependent CREB1 phosphorylation and subsequent ACOD1 transcription. Conversely, dopamine disrupts TLR4-MYD88 interaction via DRD2 without affecting the formation of the LPS-induced TLR4-MD2-CD14 complex. Enhanced ACOD1 expression induces CD274/PD-L1 production independently of itaconate, precipitating inflammation-associated immunosuppression in sepsis. Delayed administration of pramipexole, a dopamine agonist, mitigates lethality in bacterial sepsis mouse models. Conversely, the dopamine antagonist aripiprazole exacerbates sepsis mortality. Dysregulation of the dopamine-ACOD1 axis correlates with sepsis severity in patients, indicating a potential therapeutic target for modulating this neuroimmune pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Infections* / immunology
  • Bacterial Infections* / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopamine / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / metabolism
  • Neuroimmunomodulation*
  • Pramipexole / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism
  • Sepsis* / immunology
  • Sepsis* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Dopamine
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Pramipexole