Cited by 1,040Vagus Nerve Stimulation ResearchAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesGut microbiota and health

The vagus nerve and the inflammatory reflex – linking immunity and metabolism

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Pavlov, Valentin A., Tracey, Kevin J.·2012·Nature Reviews Endocrinology

Abstract

The vagus nerve has an important role in regulation of metabolic homeostasis, and efferent vagus nerve-mediated cholinergic signalling controls immune function and proinflammatory responses via the inflammatory reflex. Dysregulation of metabolism and immune function in obesity are associated with chronic inflammation, a critical step in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cholinergic mechanisms within the inflammatory reflex have, in the past 2 years, been implicated in attenuating obesity-related inflammation and metabolic complications. This knowledge has led to the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of obesity-related disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrendo.2012.189

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  • The inflammation-sensing and inflammation-suppressing functions outlined above provide the principal components of the inflammatory reflex.

    “The inflammation-sensing and inflammation-suppressing functions outlined above provide the principal components of the inflammatory reflex (71).”
  • The appearance of pathogenic organisms activates innate immune cells that release cytokines; these in turn activate sensory fibers that ascend in the vagus nerve to synapse in the nucleus tractus solitarius; increased efferent signals in the vagus nerve suppress peripheral cytokine release through macrophage nicotinic receptors and the CAIP.

    “The appearance of pathogenic organisms activates innate immune cells that release cytokines. These in turn activate sensory fibers that ascend in the vagus nerve to synapse in the nucleus tractus solitarius. Increased efferent signals in the vagus nerve suppress peripheral cytokine release through macrophage nicotinic receptors and the CAIP.”
  • There are both speculative and well-established links between the autonomic and immune systems which could provide a mechanism for these results.

    “there are both speculative (Pavlov and Tracey, 2012) and well-established (Felten, 1999) links between the autonomic and immune systems which could provide a mechanism for these results.”

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Authors
Pavlov, V. A., & Tracey, K. J.
Affiliations
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (US)
Corresponding author
Pavlov, Valentin A.
Venue
Nature Reviews Endocrinology
Published
2012-11-21
Volume
8
Issue
12
Pages
743-754
ISSN
  • 1759-5029 (ISSN-L)
  • 1759-5037
OpenAlex
W1981020037
Cited by
1,040
References
148
Citations by year
2026: 149 · 2025: 121 · 2024: 111 · 2023: 87 · 2022: 96 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 73 · 2017: 60 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 1
FWCI
2.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM089807, R01GM057226)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
vagus nerve, cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, obesity, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic homeostasis, immune activation, vagus nerve stimulation therapy
MeSH terms
Animals, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Homeostasis, Humans, Inflammation, Obesity, Reflex, Vagus Nerve, Signal Transduction, Metabolic Networks and Pathways

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