Stimulation of the efferent pathway of the vagus nerve releases acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter which interacts with the α7 subunit of the nicotinic AChR (α7 nAChR). nAChR is expressed on the cell membrane of macrophages and other cytokine secreting cells. Binding of acetylcholine to nAChR activates intracellular signal transduction which inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Stimulation of the vagus nerve's efferent pathway releases acetylcholine, which interacts with the α7 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR). This receptor is expressed on macrophages and other immune cells that produce cytokines. The binding of acetylcholine to the receptor activates signaling pathways that suppress the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.