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Usage Information

Physiology and immunology of the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway
Kevin J. Tracey
Kevin J. Tracey
Published February 1, 2007
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2007;117(2):289-296. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI30555.
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Review

Physiology and immunology of the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway

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Abstract

Cytokine production by the immune system contributes importantly to both health and disease. The nervous system, via an inflammatory reflex of the vagus nerve, can inhibit cytokine release and thereby prevent tissue injury and death. The efferent neural signaling pathway is termed the cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway. Cholinergic agonists inhibit cytokine synthesis and protect against cytokine-mediated diseases. Stimulation of the vagus nerve prevents the damaging effects of cytokine release in experimental sepsis, endotoxemia, ischemia/reperfusion injury, hemorrhagic shock, arthritis, and other inflammatory syndromes. Herein is a review of this physiological, functional anatomical mechanism for neurological regulation of cytokine-dependent disease that begins to define an immunological homunculus.

Authors

Kevin J. Tracey

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Usage data is cumulative from May 2024 through May 2025.

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