Work

Vagus Nerve Regulation of Inflammatory Responses in Sepsis: Mechanistic Insights and Translational Applications

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The vagus nerve, often regarded as a "guardian" of physiological homeostasis, plays a pivotal role in regulating cardiovascular, neurological, and immune functions. Notably, it modulates inflammatory responses through the inflammatory reflex, a neural circuit, that involves vagal afferent sensing of peripheral inflammation and efferent regulation via the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Sepsis is a dysregulated immune disorder triggered by infection, characterized by an initial hyperinflammatory phase. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward harnessing vagus nerve-mediated neuromodulation to restore immune balance in sepsis. This review summarizes current insights into the mechanisms of vagus nerve-mediated inflammatory regulation, outlines two major translational strategies, and underscore the therapeutic potential of targeting vagus nerve-mediated neuroimmune pathways in sepsis.

Source: Journal of Inflammation Research

DOI: 10.2147/jir.s583388

Authors: Guibing Chen, Yang Yan, Shuchang Liu, Yuxin He, Tao Ma

Institutions: First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,836