Good news! This could be huge!
"... one controller of the immune system actually lies elsewhere—in the brain. The researchers showed that a group of nerve cells in the brainstem acts like a master controller or rheostat, sending and receiving signals from vagal neurons in the body to either boost inflammation or dial it down. ...
In one key experiment, the team gave mice immune stimulants while turning off the brain neurons. The animals quickly developed a massive, runaway immune reaction, much like the extreme dysregulated immune response underlying deadly sepsis or a cytokine storm in humans. But when the scientists activated the brain stem neurons at the same time as the stimulant doses, the animals’ immune systems mounted a rapid and strong anti-inflammatory response—and almost all those mice survived. Moreover, the researchers could control different parts of this body-brain neural circuit, and depending on the signals the brain receives, it either ramps up inflammation or tones it down. ...
they found two distinct populations of vagal neurons. One carries the pro-inflammation signals to the brain; and the other carries the anti-inflammation signals, thus together they inform the brain of the inflammatory state. ..."
they found two distinct populations of vagal neurons. One carries the pro-inflammation signals to the brain; and the other carries the anti-inflammation signals, thus together they inform the brain of the inflammatory state. ..."
"... The results, published on 1 May in Nature, suggest that the brain maintains a delicate balance between the molecular signals that promote inflammation and those that dampen it — a finding that could lead to treatments for autoimmune diseases and other conditions caused by an excessive immune response.
The discovery is akin to a black-swan event ..."
The discovery is akin to a black-swan event ..."
"... The Zuker lab turned to a bacterial compound that sets off innate immune responses. The scientists found that giving this molecule to mice activated the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract, or cNST, which is tucked inside the brainstem. The cNST plays a major role in the body-brain axis and is the primary target of the vagus nerve.
The scientists showed that chemically suppressing the cNST resulted in an out-of-control inflammatory response to the immune insult: levels of pro-inflammatory molecules released by the immune system were more than three times higher than usual, and levels of anti-inflammatory immune compounds were roughly three times lower than normal. In contrast, artificially activating the cNST reduced pro-inflammatory molecule levels by nearly 70 percent and increased anti-inflammatory chemical levels almost tenfold. ..."
Found: the dial in the brain that controls the immune system Scientists identify the brain cells that regulate inflammation, and pinpoint how they keep tabs on the immune response.
Columbia Scientists Identify New Brain Circuit in Mice that Controls Body’s Inflammatory Reactions Findings uncover hidden connections between the brain and body; making use of this new brain circuit could lead to new therapies for many immune disorders
A body–brain circuit that regulates body inflammatory responses (no public access)
Labeled in red are neurons in the brainstem of a mouse that control body inflammatory responses. Labeled in blue are the brain’s other cells.
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