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

Kelsey M Wasilczuk; Kelsey C Bayer; Jesse P Somann; Gabriel O Albors; Jennifer Sturgis; L Tiffany Lyle; J Paul Robinson; Pedro P Irazoqui

doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.09.005

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

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2019 Feb;45(2):481-489. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.09.005. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Authors

Kelsey M Wasilczuk¹, Kelsey C Bayer², Jesse P Somann³, Gabriel O Albors², Jennifer Sturgis⁴, L Tiffany Lyle⁵, J Paul Robinson⁴, Pedro P Irazoqui⁶

Affiliations

¹ Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. Electronic address: kmwasilczuk@gmail.com.
² Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
³ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
⁴ Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
⁵ College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
⁶ Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

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

Abstract

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, I_SPPA = 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.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Disease Models, Animal
Inflammation / physiopathology*
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Reflex / physiology*
Ultrasonic Waves*
Vagus Nerve / physiopathology*
Vagus Nerve Stimulation / methods*