Divergent splanchnic sympathetic efferent nerve pathways regulate interleukin-10 and tumour necrosis factor-α responses to endotoxaemia

The efferent branches of the splanchnic sympathetic nerves that enhance interleukin-10 (IL-10) and suppress tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) levels in the reflex response to systemic immune challenge were investigated in anaesthetized, ventilated rats. Plasma levels of TNF and IL-10 were measured 90 min after intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 60 mu g/kg). Splanchnic nerve section, ganglionic blockade with pentolinium tartrate or beta(2) adrenoreceptor antagonism with ICI 118551 all blocked IL-10 responses. Restoring plasma adrenaline after splanchnic denervation rescued IL-10 responses. TNF responses were disinhibited by splanchnic denervation or pentolinium treatment, but not by ICI 118551. Splanchnic nerve branches were cut individually or in combination in vagotomized rats, ruling out any vagal influence on results. Distal splanchnic denervation, sparing the adrenal nerves, disinhibited TNF but did not reduce IL-10 responses. Selective adrenal denervation depressed IL-10 but did not disinhibit TNF responses. Selective denervation of either spleen or liver did not affect IL-10 or TNF responses, but combined splenic and adrenal denervation did so. Finally, combined section of the cervical and lumbar sympathetic nerves did not affect cytokine responses to LPS. Together, these results show that the endogenous anti-inflammatory reflex is mediated by sympathetic efferent fibres that run in the splanchnic, but not other sympathetic nerves, nor the vagus. Within the splanchnic nerves, divergent pathways control these two cytokine responses: neurally driven adrenaline, acting via beta(2) adrenoreceptors, regulates IL-10, while TNF is restrained by sympathetic nerves to abdominal organs including the spleen, where non-beta(2) adreno-receptor mechanisms are dominant.

Automated summary

This study investigates the efferent branches of the splanchnic sympathetic nerves that affect the levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in the immune response. The results show that adrenal nerves regulate IL-10 levels through beta(2) adrenoreceptors, while sympathetic nerves to abdominal organs, particularly the spleen, restrain TNF levels through non-beta(2) adrenoreceptor mechanisms.