Voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system and attenuation of the innate immune response in humans

Abstract

Excessive or persistent proinflammatory cytokine production plays a central role in autoimmune diseases. Acute activation of the sympathetic nervous system attenuates the innate immune response. However, both the autonomic nervous system and innate immune system are regarded as systems that cannot be voluntarily influenced. Herein, we evaluated the effects of a training program on the autonomic nervous system and innate immune response. Healthy volunteers were randomized to either the intervention (n = 12) or control group (n = 12). Subjects in the intervention group were trained for 10 d in meditation (third eye meditation), breathing techniques (i.a., cyclic hyperventilation followed by breath retention), and exposure to cold (i.a., immersions in ice cold water). The control group was not trained. Subsequently, all subjects underwent experimental endotoxemia (i.v. administration of 2 ng/kg Escherichia coli endotoxin). In the intervention group, practicing the learned techniques resulted in intermittent respiratory alkalosis and hypoxia resulting in profoundly increased plasma epinephrine levels. In the intervention group, plasma levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased more rapidly after endotoxin administration, correlated strongly with preceding epinephrine levels, and were higher. Levels of proinflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 were lower in the intervention group and correlated negatively with IL-10 levels. Finally, flu-like symptoms were lower in the intervention group. In conclusion, we demonstrate that voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system results in epinephrine release and subsequent suppression of the innate immune response in humans in vivo. These results could have important implications for the treatment of conditions associated with excessive or persistent inflammation, such as autoimmune diseases.

Release of Danger-Associated Molecular Patterns following Chemotherapy Does Not Induce Immunoparalysis in Leukemia Patients

“…Control samples ( n = 12) were obtained from healthy male volunteers (median age 22 [range 19-27] years) participating in the control group of an experimental endotoxemia trial [12] at baseline, i.e., before the administration of endotoxin. Written informed consent was obtained from all of these volunteers prior to screening and inclusion in the study.…”

Monocyte Subsets Are Differentially Lost from the Circulation during Acute Inflammation Induced by Human Experimental Endotoxemia

“…After LPS injection, subjects were infused with hydration fluid at a constant rate of 150 mL/h. Heart rate and blood pressure were constantly monitored from t = -1 h until discharge at t = 8 h, as well as the course of LPS-induced symptoms [16] .…”

Ultrasound Modulates the Splenic Neuroimmune Axis in Attenuating AKI

“…23 Clinical evidence of this interaction has been documented in times of stress and in athletes subjected to extreme conditions. 24 Studies in animal models [25][26][27] and human blood cells demonstrate a relationship between the autonomic nervous system and inflammation. Norepinephrine inhibits LPSinduced TNFa and IL-6 production through stimulation of b1-adrenergic receptors in human leukocytes, 28 and epinephrine signaling through protein kinase A induces IL-10 synthesis in human mononuclear cells.…”