Inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production by stimulation of brain muscarinic receptors

• US 20080140138A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (Northwell Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (Northwell Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ivanova, Svetlana M., Tracey, Kevin J.
• Application Number:
  US11/807,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
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• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/341 not condensed with another ring, e.g. ranitidine, furosemide, bufetolol, muscarine
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Abstract

Methods for inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine release or inflammation in a vertebrate are provided. The methods comprise activating a brain muscarinic receptor of the vertebrate, or directly stimulating a vagus nerve pathway in the brain of the vertebrate. Also provided are methods for conditioning a vertebrate to inhibit the release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine or reduce inflammation in the vertebrate upon experiencing a sensory stimulus. The methods comprise (a) activating a muscarinic brain receptor or directly stimulating the vagus nerve pathway in the brain of the vertebrate and providing the sensory stimulus to the vertebrate within a time period sufficient to create an association between the stimulus and the activation of the brain muscarinic receptor; and (b) repeating step (a) at sufficient time intervals and duration to reinforce the association sufficiently for the inflammation to be reduced by the sensory stimulus alone.

Claims

1. A method of inhibiting release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine in a vertebrate at risk for or having a condition mediated by an inflammatory cytokine cascade, the method comprising directly stimulating a vagus nerve pathway in the brain of the vertebrate.

2. The method of claim 2, wherein the vagus nerve pathway is stimulated electrically.

3. A method of treating an inflammatory disease in a vertebrate, the method comprising directly stimulating a vagus nerve pathway in the brain of the vertebrate in an amount sufficient to inhibit release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine in the vertebrate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the vagus nerve pathway is stimulated electrically.