Inflammatory reflex


The inflammatory reflex is a neural circuit that regulates the immune response to injury and invasion. All reflexes have an afferent and efferent arc. The Inflammatory reflex has a sensory afferent arc, which is activated by cytokines and a motor or efferent arc, which transmits action potentials in the vagus nerve to suppress cytokine production. Increased signaling in the efferent arc inhibits inflammation and prevents organ damage.

It has also been shown that the brain can use this circuit to regulate the immune response and to extend the immunological memory.

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