1. Cytokines and the immunomodulatory function of the vagus nerve
G.R. Johnston, N.R. Webster 
British Journal of Anaesthesia 
Volume 102, Issue 4, Pages (April 2009)
DOI: /bja/aep037
Copyright © 2009 British Journal of Anaesthesia Terms and Conditions

2. Fig 1
Conditions of cytokine excess. SIRS can be classified as resulting from either infectious or non-infectious conditions.
British Journal of Anaesthesia  , DOI: ( /bja/aep037)
Copyright © 2009 British Journal of Anaesthesia Terms and Conditions

3. Fig 2
The inflammatory reflex. Pathogens, ischaemia, and other forms of injury result in cytokine release from immune cells which is sensed by the afferent vagus nerve. The information is relayed to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and subsequently to the dorsal motor nucleus (DMN) resulting in activation of the efferent vagus nerve—termed the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Efferent vagus nerve activity inhibits cytokine production via the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAchR) located on macrophages and other immune cells.
British Journal of Anaesthesia  , DOI: ( /bja/aep037)
Copyright © 2009 British Journal of Anaesthesia Terms and Conditions