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URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19743552/

⇱ The inflammatory reflex and the role of complementary and alternative medical therapies - PubMed

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Abstract

The body's first defense against invading pathogens or tissue injury is the innate immune system. Since excessive immune responses can be damaging, anti-inflammatory mechanisms function to control the pro-inflammatory response and prevent injury. The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is a neural mechanism that suppresses the innate inflammatory response. Knowledge concerning innervation of the immune system offers a unique opportunity to explore previously unrecognized techniques to treat disease. It also enables consideration of the neurological basis of complementary and alternative medical therapies, such as meditation and acupuncture. This evolving area of research has implications for the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and other conditions of excessive cytokine release.

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Conflict of interest statement

KJT is consultant to SetPoint Medical, Inc.

Figures

👁 FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
The cytokine response to infection or injury. Abnormal duration or intensity of inflammation results in disease (depression, fever, anorexia, pain, edema, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, tissue damage, shock, organ failure, or death) (Modified from Tracey et al. and Tracey.)
👁 FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Local and systemic effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in response to endotoxin (LPS), invading pathogens, or tissue injury.
👁 FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
The inflammatory reflex. Activation of the vagus nerve results in the release of acetylcholine which inhibits NF-κB and stimulates the STAT3-SOC3 anti-inflammatory pathway via α7 nicotinic receptors (nAChR) on activated macrophages and other cytokine-producing cells. Ultimately, synthesis of TNF, HMGB1, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines implicated in inflammatory conditions is inhibited. (Modified from Tracey, Tracey, and Metz & Tracey.)

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