Anti-inflammatory reflex - interaction of the nervous system and the immune system

The coordination of body systems is important for overcoming various conditions. The nervous system, as a fast coordinator of the body, reflexively manages many functions. At the same time, the immune system is involved in endogenous and exogenous factors that disturb homeostasis at any time to protect the body. Research has shown negative feedback between the two systems. Inflammatory factors such as pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate the vagus nerve, which increases afferent signals to the central nervous system. The central autonomic network increases efferent vagus nerve impulses. Amplification of efferent vagus nerve activity promotes the release of acetylcholine. Increased acetylcholine suppresses inflammation through its receptors on immune cells. The aforementioned feedback process, which is the two-way communication of the nervous and immune systems, is called the "anti-inflammatory reflex". In the present article, the role of each component and the therapeutic potential of using the anti-inflammatory reflex will be discussed. Moreover, heart rate variability as an index for measuring the state of the anti-inflammatory reflex is considered.

کلیدواژه ها:

anti-inflammatory reflex ، inflammation ، autonomic nervous system ، vagus nerve ، immune system