Talk:Vagus nerve

The Pulse of Inflammation: Heart Rate Variability, the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway, and Implications for Therapy https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4527046/ --JenB (talk) 01:36, 24 April 2018 (PDT)

This can use some clarification. It's both pro and anti-inflammatory? How does that homeostasis work? --JenB (talk) 01:36, 24 April 2018 (PDT)

For example, when the vagus nerve detects pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin 1-beta, chemoreceptors in the afferent vagus nerve send a signal into the brainstem that triggers both glial cell activation within the central nervous system as well as the general innate immune response, sometimes called the sickness response.[4] The efferent vagus nerve is responsible for an anti-inflammatory pathway. The vagus nerve speaks directly to the immune system via the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Vagus is thus important for maintaining homeostasis and preventing an overreactive immune response that can cause major injury or death. For example, vagus nerve stimulation is being used experimentally as an adjunct treatment for sepsis, which can cause death via a massive cytokine storm (e.g. Wang et al 2016 Int Rev Immunol).