A vagal-to-sympathetic reflex controls lung vascular leak
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E. Robinson, E. M. Ibanez, B. Santibanez Ocampo, J. Li, N. Ballal, J. M. Miller et al. · DOI: 10.64898/2026.10.22.761052 · Summary page
Why cover this story this week?
A nerve reflex opens the lung’s vascular barrier
Blood vessels must sometimes let fluid and immune components into surrounding tissue, but excessive leakage in the lungs can make breathing harder. A new preprint identifies a neural circuit that helps control that balance. By selectively activating different sensory neurons in the vagus nerve, researchers found that neurons expressing Cysltr2 rapidly increased lung vascular leakage. These cells innervate the capillary beds around the air sacs and respond to mechanical and inflammatory signals, matching the long-described but poorly understood pulmonary J receptors.
The effect was not simply a local release of signaling molecules from nerve endings. It involved relays in the brainstem and outgoing sympathetic nerves, spreading the response across the lung vasculature. Silencing the sensory neurons during an inhaled allergen challenge reduced leakage and improved lung mechanics. The work suggests that a leaky vessel can be the endpoint of a nervous-system decision, not just a local failure of its lining; whether this circuit can be safely targeted therapeutically remains unresolved.
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