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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Immunology

Neuroimmune communication: from CNS-resident cell networks to the glioblastoma microenvironment

  • Yanfei Li1
  • Qiuhong Zheng1
  • Xianwu Wang1
  • Huaian Fu2
  • Jiancheng Chen1
  • Lili Yao1
  • Junyan Lin1
  • Rui Wang3
  1. 1Cell Therapy Research Center, Xiamen Humanity Hospital
  2. 2School of Medicine, Xiamen University
  3. 3Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen Medical College
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Abstract

Neurons, glial cells, and immune cells engage in extensive bidirectional communication within the central nervous system (CNS) through shared receptors, ligands, and secreted mediators. Glial cells — particularly astrocytes and microglia — serve not merely as structural support but as central immunomodulatory hubs that relay neural signals to immune effectors. In the context of CNS malignancies, glioblastoma (GBM) co-opts these neuroimmune networks to establish an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This narrative review is organized around five interconnected axes. After summarizing the receptor and ligand repertoires of CNS-resident cell types, we examine (i) the neural inputs that reach glioblastoma and the reciprocal signals the tumor returns to the neural compartment; (ii) the remodeling of glial cells and glioma-associated macrophages/microglia; (iii) the innate and adaptive immune suppression that follows, including a “chemical–cellular” suppressive architecture; (iv) the blood–brain barrier and neurovascular interface that constrain immune access; and (v) the therapeutic opportunities arising from each of these layers.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{li2026neuroimmune,
  title = {{Neuroimmune communication: from CNS-resident cell networks to the glioblastoma microenvironment}},
  author = {Yanfei Li and Qiuhong Zheng and Xianwu Wang and Huaian Fu and Jiancheng Chen and Lili Yao and Junyan Lin and Rui Wang},
  journal = {Frontiers in Immunology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2026.2002570},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.2002570/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Neuroimmune communication: from CNS-resident cell networks to the glioblastoma microenvironment
AU  - Yanfei Li
AU  - Qiuhong Zheng
AU  - Xianwu Wang
AU  - Huaian Fu
AU  - Jiancheng Chen
AU  - Lili Yao
AU  - Junyan Lin
AU  - Rui Wang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/28
JO  - Frontiers in Immunology
DO  - 10.3389/fimmu.2026.2002570
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.2002570/full
AB  - Neurons, glial cells, and immune cells engage in extensive bidirectional communication within the central nervous system (CNS) through shared receptors, ligands, and secreted mediators. Glial cells — particularly astrocytes and microglia — serve not merely as structural support but as central immunomodulatory hubs that relay neural signals to immune effectors. In the context of CNS malignancies, glioblastoma (GBM) co-opts these neuroimmune networks to establish an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This narrative review is organized around five interconnected axes. After summarizing the receptor and ligand repertoires of CNS-resident cell types, we examine (i) the neural inputs that reach glioblastoma and the reciprocal signals the tumor returns to the neural compartment; (ii) the remodeling of glial cells and glioma-associated macrophages/microglia; (iii) the innate and adaptive immune suppression that follows, including a “chemical–cellular” suppressive architecture; (iv) the blood–brain barrier and neurovascular interface that constrain immune access; and (v) the therapeutic opportunities arising from each of these layers.
SN  - 1664-3224
ER  -