this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2026
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Science Memes

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I've got a fever... (media.discordapp.net)
submitted 3 days ago by ContriteErudite@lemmy.world to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] deranger@sh.itjust.works 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

We demonstrate that pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines communicate with distinct populations of vagal neurons to inform the brain of an emerging inflammatory response.

Where do you think those cytokines that are influencing the nervous system come from? White blood cells. That’s where it all starts, not the nervous system. You’re putting the cart before the horse.

Chemogenetic activation of the cNST neurons during an immune response suppresses inflammation.

The study you linked demonstrates the brain suppresses inflammation/fever, not promotes it.

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Here we showed that cytokines themselves mediate the activation of the vagal–brain axis and characterized the key neuronal elements and the logic of the circuit. Most unexpectedly, this body–brain circuit modulates not only pro-inflammatory but also the anti-inflammatory response.

It does both.

[–] deranger@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

You’re not comprehending what you’re reading. In that sentence, when it says it modulates the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response, it’s saying it affects both, It’s not saying that the nervous system itself is pro-inflammatory.

Together, these results uncovered two lines of signalling from the vagal ganglia to the brain. One line (TRPA1) carries anti-inflammatory signals and acts on cNST neurons to enhance the anti-inflammatory response (for example, by positive feedback onto immune cells releasing anti-inflammatory cytokines) and helps to suppress the pro-inflammatory state. The other (CALCA neurons) responds to pro-inflammatory signals and helps to tune down the pro-inflammatory response (for example, by negative feedback onto immune cells releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines).

To “tune down a pro-inflammatory response” and “enhance an anti-inflammatory response” are both anti-inflammatory effects achieved through modulating both anti- and pro- inflammatory responses. Enhance one, diminish another.

[–] ContriteErudite@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago

This is what I love about this community. Come for the memes, stay to learn something new.
I'm double-dipping for dopamine.