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The vagal nerve as a link between the nervous and immune system in the instance of polymicrobial sepsis

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Abstract

Background

The role of the vagal nerve in the autonomic nervous system is widely well known. Recently, an additional function was revealed serving as a connector between the nervous and immune system. This connection is called the “cholinergic inflammatory pathway.” Through stimulation of the acetylcholine receptors located upon the macrophages, the “unspecific” immune system can be directly influenced.

Methods

The vagal nerve was completely transected directly posterior to its passage through the diaphragm. The effect of complete vagotomy was analyzed using a murine model of polymicrobial peritonitis (colon ascendens stent peritonitis, CASP). Survival and clinical course of vagotomized or sham-operated mice were analyzed in the CASP model.

Results

After CASP surgery, vagotomy led to a significantly increased mortality (64.7%) in comparison to sham-vagotomized animals (34%). No difference in the bacterial load of various tissues (lung, liver, spleen, blood, lavage fluid, and kidney) from septic animals with or without vagotomy was observed. Vagotomized animals reveal elevated serum cytokine levels (TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1) 20 h after the induction of polymicrobial peritonitis.

Conclusion

The vagal nerve is therefore an important modulator of the immune system.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by DFG-GRK 840.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Abteilung für Allgemeine Chirurgie, Visceral-Thorax- und Gefässchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Greifswald der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Friedrich-Loeffler-Strasse 23b, 17475, Greifswald, Germany

    Wolfram Kessler, Tobias Traeger, Alexandra Westerholt, Friederike Neher, Marlene Mikulcak, Antje Müller, Stefan Maier & Claus-Dieter Heidecke

Authors
  1. Wolfram Kessler
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  2. Tobias Traeger
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  3. Alexandra Westerholt
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  4. Friederike Neher
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  5. Marlene Mikulcak
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  6. Antje Müller
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  7. Stefan Maier
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  8. Claus-Dieter Heidecke
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wolfram Kessler.

Additional information

W. Kessler and T. Traeger contributed equally to this work

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Kessler, W., Traeger, T., Westerholt, A. et al. The vagal nerve as a link between the nervous and immune system in the instance of polymicrobial sepsis. Langenbecks Arch Surg 391, 83–87 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-006-0031-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-006-0031-y

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