title: Vagal nerve stimulation attenuates IL-6 and TNFα expression in respiratory regions of the developing rat brainstem.
abstract: Pre-term infants are at greater risk for systemic infection due to an underdeveloped immune system. Airway infection results in immune up-regulation of early pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in the brainstem. Current treatment for neonatal infection involves antibiotic administration. We previously showed that LPS injected into the trachea of neonatal rats causes changes in breathing and in IL-1β expression in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and hypoglossal motor nucleus (XII). We hypothesize that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instilled in the trachea also causes the up-regulation of IL-6 and TNFα in the brainstem autonomic control regions. To test this hypothesis we injected LPS into the trachea of rat pups (postnatal ages 10-12days) and then assessed changes in IL-6 and TNFα. Vagal nerve stimulation has been used in the treatment of many inflammatory disorders, including sepsis. Our experiments show that VNS attenuates the upregulation of IL-6 and TNFα caused by LPS and may be a viable alternative to antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Center for Perinatal Biology, Dept. of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, United States.
authors.forename: Rhaya L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Center for Perinatal Biology, Dept. of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, United States.
authors.forename: Samuel T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Oakwood University Huntsville, AL, United States.
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.affiliation: Center for Perinatal Biology, Dept. of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University, United States. Electronic address: cgwilson@llu.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014132:Trachea / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Inflammation; Respiratory control; Vagus nerve