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The Vagus Nerve in Appetite Regulation, Mood, and Intestinal Inflammation
Open accessAbstract
Although the gastrointestinal tract contains intrinsic neural plexuses that allow a significant degree of independent control over gastrointestinal functions, the central nervous system provides extrinsic neural inputs that modulate, regulate, and integrate these functions. In particular, the vagus nerve provides the parasympathetic innervation to the gastrointestinal tract, coordinating the complex interactions between central and peripheral neural control mechanisms. This review discusses the physiological roles of the afferent (sensory) and motor (efferent) vagus in regulation of appetite, mood, and the immune system, as well as the pathophysiological outcomes of vagus nerve dysfunction resulting in obesity, mood disorders, and inflammation. The therapeutic potential of vagus nerve modulation to attenuate or reverse these pathophysiological outcomes and restore autonomic homeostasis is also discussed.
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“Changes in enteric neuron activity perceived by the vagus nerve are essential for mediating satiety, stress, and mood (12, 58, 59).”
From The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication (2020) · cites this paper as [59]
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“Compared to the HPA axis, the CAIP has some unique properties, such as a high speed of neural conductance, which enables an immediate modulatory input to the affected region of inflammation (70).”
From Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain–Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders (2018) · cites this paper as [70]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Browning, K. N., Verheijden, S., & Boeckxstaens, G. E.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Boeckxstaens, Guy E.
- Venue
- Gastroenterology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-03
- Volume
- 152
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 730-744
- ISSN
- 0016-5085 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5337130
- OpenAlex
- W2561923085
- Cited by
- 361
- References
- 161
- Citations by year
- 2026: 40 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 7
- FWCI
- 1.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Gastroenterology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (078364)
- National Science Foundation (IOS1148978)
- European Research Council (ERC-2013-Adg, 340101)
- FWO postdoctoral research fellowship
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Keywords
- vagus nerve, appetite regulation, mood, intestinal inflammation, gut-brain axis, parasympathetic innervation, obesity, mood disorders, vagus nerve stimulation, autonomic homeostasis, immune system
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Affect, Afferent Pathways, Animals, Appetite Regulation, Colitis, Diet, Efferent Pathways, Enteritis, Humans, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Afferent, Obesity, Vagus Nerve, Cytokines, Vagus Nerve Stimulation
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