Veiz E.a,b· Kieslich S.-K.a· Czesnik D.b· Herrmann-Lingen C.a,c· Meyer T.a,c· Staab J.a,c

Author affiliations

aDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
bDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
cGerman Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview

Received: February 23, 2022
Accepted: April 15, 2022
Published online: May 16, 2022

Number of Print Pages: 10
Number of Figures: 3
Number of Tables: 2

ISSN: 1021-7401 (Print)
eISSN: 1423-0216 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/NIM

Abstract

Objective: The vagus nerve constitutes the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays an important role in the regulation of neuro-immune responses. Invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve produces anti-inflammatory effects; however, data on humoral immune responses of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) are rare. Therefore, the present study investigated changes in serum cytokine concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) following a short-term, non-invasive stimulation of the vagus nerve. Methods: Whole blood samples were collected before and after a short-lived application of active tVNS at the inner tragus as well as sham stimulation of the earlobe. Cytokine serum concentrations were determined in two healthy cohorts of younger (n = 20) and older participants (n = 19). Differences between active and sham conditions were analyzed using linear mixed models and post hoc F tests after applying Yeo-Johnson power transformations. This trial was part of a larger study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05007743). Results: In the young cohort, IL-6 and IL-1β concentrations were significantly increased after active stimulation, whereas they were slightly decreased after sham stimulation (IL-6: p = 0.012; IL-1β: p = 0.012). Likewise, in the older cohort, IL-1β and IL-8 concentrations were significantly elevated after active stimulation and reduced after sham application (IL-8: p = 0.007; IL-1β: p = 0.001). In contrast, circulating TNFα concentrations did not change significantly in either group. Conclusion: Our results show that active tVNS led to an immediate increase in the serum concentrations of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and/or IL-8 in two independent cohorts of healthy study participants.

© 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel

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First-Page Preview

Received: February 23, 2022
Accepted: April 15, 2022
Published online: May 16, 2022

Number of Print Pages: 10
Number of Figures: 3
Number of Tables: 2

ISSN: 1021-7401 (Print)
eISSN: 1423-0216 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/NIM

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