Cardiopulmonary neuro-immune reflex: From afferent stress signaling to peripheral myeloid memory.

Abstract

The cardiopulmonary system is not only a pump-respirator network but also a sophisticated sensor-effector circuit. Recent findings have highlighted how mechanical and inflammatory stress in the heart and lungs is transmitted via afferent nerves-including vagal, glossopharyngeal, and spinal fibers-to the brainstem and higher autonomic centers. These afferent signals trigger adaptive or maladaptive efferent responses via the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn modulate immune cell dynamics in the bone marrow and peripheral organs. This review discusses the cardiopulmonary afferent-efferent axis, focusing on three major components: (1) the molecular and functional basis of afferent pathways linking the heart and lungs to the brain; (2) the impact of these inputs on central autonomic regulation; (3) the downstream effects of sympathetic outflow on hematopoietic stem cells, leading to myeloid skewing, epigenetic memory, and inflammatory macrophage expansion. Finally, we explore how this axis contributes to cardiovascular disease progression and multimorbidity, and how recent studies-especially those on innate immune memory-open new therapeutic avenues targeting neuro-immune crosstalk.