Medicinal nicotine in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome, the new corticosteroid

Figure 2 Afferent limb of the inflammatory reflex. This figure demonstrates the mechanisms by which the vagus nerve senses inflammation. Vagal sensory neurons directly express receptors for various pro-inflammatory cytokines such as, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1β, neuropeptide Y and prostaglandins. Vagal fibers innervating the lymphatic system demonstrate sensitivity to interleukin-1β. In addition, the nodose ganglion has been shown to express Toll-like receptors. Area postrema directly expresses proinflammatory cytokine receptors[22]. The signal is transmitted via the vagal afferents to the bilateral nucleus tractus solitarius, the primary vagal afferent nucleus[19].