Increased Concentrations of Circulating Interleukins following Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Results from a Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects.
Neuroimmunomodulation
; 29(4): 450-459, 2022.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35576915
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The vagus nerve constitutes the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays an important role in the regulation of neuro-immune responses. Invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve produces anti-inflammatory effects; however, data on humoral immune responses of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) are rare. Therefore, the present study investigated changes in serum cytokine concentrations of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) following a short-term, non-invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve.METHODS:
Whole blood samples were collected before and after a short-lived application of active tVNS at the inner tragus as well as sham stimulation of the earlobe. Cytokine serum concentrations were determined in two healthy cohorts of younger (n = 20) and older participants (n = 19). Differences between active and sham conditions were analyzed using linear mixed models and post hoc F tests after applying Yeo-Johnson power transformations. This trial was part of a larger study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05007743).RESULTS:
In the young cohort, IL-6 and IL-1ß concentrations were significantly increased after active stimulation, whereas they were slightly decreased after sham stimulation (IL-6 p = 0.012; IL-1ß p = 0.012). Likewise, in the older cohort, IL-1ß and IL-8 concentrations were significantly elevated after active stimulation and reduced after sham application (IL-8 p = 0.007; IL-1ß p = 0.001). In contrast, circulating TNFα concentrations did not change significantly in either group.CONCLUSION:
Our results show that active tVNS led to an immediate increase in the serum concentrations of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1ß, IL-6, and/or IL-8 in two independent cohorts of healthy study participants.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Estimulação do Nervo Vago
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article