Vagus Nerve Stimulation Reduces Neuroinﬂammation Through Microglia Polarization Regulation to Improve Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury

Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022 · DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.813472 · Published: April 7, 2022

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to permanent motor function deficits, and effective treatments are lacking. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), a neuromodulation technique, has shown promise in improving motor function recovery after SCI. This study aimed to explore how VNS improves SCI, focusing on its effects on inflammation and the behavior of microglia, which are immune cells in the central nervous system. The research found that VNS promotes a shift in microglia from a pro-inflammatory state (M1) to an anti-inflammatory state (M2) by upregulating α7nAchR, leading to reduced neuroinflammation and improved motor function recovery.

Study Duration

4 Weeks

Participants

199 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
VNS promotes functional behavioral recovery following SCI in rats and that these beneﬁcial eﬀects can be attenuated by MLA.
2
VNS could exert a neuroprotective eﬀect on SCI in rats.
3
VNS promotes microglial M2 polarization through upregulating α7nAChR to reduce neuroinﬂammation after SCI.

Research Summary

This study investigated the effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, focusing on the role of neuroinflammation and microglia polarization. The findings demonstrated that VNS reduces scar formation, tissue damage, and neuronal damage, while improving motor function recovery after SCI. The study concludes that VNS might be a promising neuromodulation strategy for SCI treatment.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

VNS might be a promising neuromodulation strategy for SCI treatment, offering a new avenue for therapeutic intervention.

Microglial Polarization

Understanding the role of microglial polarization in SCI and how VNS modulates this process can lead to the development of targeted therapies.

Clinical Translation

Further research is needed to translate these findings into clinical applications, including exploring non-invasive VNS techniques for SCI patients.

Study Limitations

1
Limited number of animal samples for BBB scores.
2
Lack of long-term observation of the anti-neuro-inﬂammatory eﬀects of VNS.
3
No knowledge of the beneﬁts of receiving VNS after the acute phase of spinal cord injury.

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