Activation of the auricular vagus nerve reflex suppresses airway inflammation.

Activation of auricular vagus nerve reflex reduces allergic airway inflammation by 50% in mice through sensory neuron stimulation.

• Why it matters: Understanding how external sensory inputs influence visceral immune responses could lead to novel treatments for inflammatory diseases, addressing a significant gap in neuroimmune regulation knowledge.
• What they did: The study used viral and chemical neural tracing, along with pharmacologic, chemogenetic, and optogenetic techniques to activate or silence auricular TRPV1+ sensory neurons in mice, examining their effects on lung inflammation.
• The result: Stimulating auricular sensory neurons decreased airway inflammation and immune cell responses, while silencing worsened inflammation, suggesting transcutaneous neuromodulation as a potential therapy for visceral inflammatory conditions.