Vagus nerve stimulation and inflammation: expanding the scope beyond cytokines.

Bioelectron Med

Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, 11030, Manhasset, NY, USA.

Published: December 2022

Approximately 20 years ago it was discovered that the vagus nerve regulates pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and inflammation. Subsequent research using several preclinical models revealed that vagus nerve stimulation evokes a protective decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines in multiple inflammatory disorders. Consequently, the pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokine balance has become the predominant readout for indicating a positive outcome of vagus nerve stimulation. However, cytokine levels are just a single aspect of an effective immune response. It is conceivable that vagus nerve stimulation regulates inflammation through additional mechanisms. In this letter, I discuss a manuscript that describes how vagus nerve stimulation promotes resolution of inflammation via regulating the balance of specialised pro-resolving mediator levels and neutrophil activity.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9714105PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s42234-022-00100-3DOI Listing

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