Mind over immunity.
The central nervous system regulates the innate immune system by elaborating anti-inflammatory hormone cascades in response to bacterial products and immune mediators. We recently discovered that the central nervous system also responds via acetylcholine-mediated efferent signals carried through the vagus nerve. Nicotinic cholinergic receptors expressed on macrophages detect these signals and respond with a dampened cytokine response. Vagus nerve stimulators can mimic this response and can prevent lethal endotoxemia. This newly appreciated cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway provides a neural substrate to study brain-immune interactions and might be harnessed for therapy of cytokine-mediated disease.
Tracey
K J
KJ
Laboratory of Biomedical Science, North Shore University Hospital, New York University, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA. kjtracey@sprynet.com
Czura
C J
CJ
Ivanova
S
S
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D011603:Psychophysiology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D000109:Acetylcholine