Modulating the Inflammatory Reflex in Rats Using Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Stimulation of the Vagus Nerve.


Author: Wasilczuk KM1, Bayer KC2, Somann JP3, Albors GO2, Sturgis J4, Lyle LT5, Robinson JP4, Irazoqui PP6

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. Electronic address: kmwasilczuk@gmail.com.

<sup>2</sup>Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

<sup>3</sup>Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

<sup>4</sup>Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

<sup>5</sup>College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

<sup>6</sup>Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Conference/Journal: Ultrasound Med Biol.
Date published: 2018 Nov 2
Other:
  Pages: S0301-5629(18)30402-2   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.09.005. [Epub ahead of print]   ,  Word Count: 161  
    Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) is linked to several chronic inflammatory diseases. Electrical vagus nerve stimulation reduces serum TNF-α levels but may cause chronic nerve damage and requires surgery. Alternatively, we proposed focused ultrasound stimulation of the vagus nerve (uVNS), which can be applied non-invasively. In this study, we induced an inflammatory response in rats using lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and collected blood to analyze the effects of uVNS on cytokine concentrations. We applied one or three 5-min pulsed focused ultrasound stimulation treatments to the vagus nerve (250 kHz, ISPPA = 3 W/cm2). Animals receiving a single ultrasound application had an average reduction in TNF-α levels of 19%, similar to the 16% reduction observed in electrically stimulated animals. With multiple applications, uVNS therapy statistically reduced serum TNF-α levels by 73% compared with control animals without any observed damage to the nerve. These findings suggest that uVNS is a suitable way to attenuate TNF-α levels.



KEYWORDS: Lipopolysaccharides; Low-intensity focused ultrasound; Tumor necrosis factor α; Vagus nerve stimulation



PMID: 30396599  DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.09.005