GABAergic synapses suppress intestinal innate immunity via insulin signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans

Significance GABAergic signaling is crucial for the physiological function and the pathological onset of neuropsychiatric disorder, but its roles in innate immunity remain unknown. Here, we reveal that pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection up-regulates the expression of synaptic components and enhances synaptic strength at GABAergic neuromuscular junctions, induces insulin-like peptide INS-31 in the muscles, and ultimately suppresses innate immunity in the intestine of C. elegans . This signaling axis of synapse–muscular insulin–intestinal innate immunity may play an important role in the maintenance of immunological homeostasis to promote host survival.