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Vagus nerve stimulation blocks vascular permeability following burn in both local and distal sites

Yan T Ortiz-Pomales1, Michael Krzyzaniak, Raul Coimbra

  • 1Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Burns, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, MC 8236, 212 Dickinson Street, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.

Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
|June 15, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) reduces vascular permeability in skin and lung after burn injury. This finding suggests VNS may help prevent burn-related lung complications.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Inflammation Research
  • Surgical Innovation

Background:

  • Systemic inflammatory response following burn injury contributes to organ damage.
  • Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown potential in mitigating burn-induced systemic inflammation.
  • Vascular permeability (VP) is a key indicator of inflammatory response and tissue damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of VNS on vascular permeability in both local (skin) and secondary (lung) sites after burn injury.
  • To determine if VNS can modulate the inflammatory response in burn models.
  • To explore the potential of VNS as a therapeutic strategy for burn complications.

Main Methods:

  • A 30% total body surface area burn model was utilized in animal studies.
  • Vascular permeability was quantified using intravascular fluorescent dextran in skin and lung tissues.
  • VNS was applied to assess its impact on burn-induced changes in VP.

Main Results:

  • A significant peak in skin VP was observed 24 hours post-burn, which was effectively blocked by VNS.
  • VNS treatment led to a reduction in burn-induced VP in the lung compared to control groups.
  • The observed protective effects of VNS were independent of splenic involvement.

Conclusions:

  • Vagus nerve stimulation plays a regulatory role in controlling vascular permeability following burn injuries.
  • VNS demonstrates potential in attenuating secondary organ damage, specifically lung complications, after burns.
  • These findings support the translational application of VNS for managing severe burn injuries.

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