A novel neuroimmune modulation system for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Abstract The vagus nerve has an anti-inflammatory effect through the inflammatory reflex, which inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages. Recent pilot clinical trials, using implantable bioelectronic devices, have demonstrated the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases as an alternative to drugs, which are not devoid of side effects and are costly. In this issue of Bioelectronic Medicine, Peterson et al. report the safety of novel implantable neuroimmune modulation device for treating rheumatoid arthritis (The RESET RA study), which I will discuss in this commentary.

Keywords

• Vagus nerve
• Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway
• Vagus nerve stimulation
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Inflammatory bowel diseases