Activating α7nAChR suppresses systemic inflammation by mitigating neuroinflammation of the medullary visceral zone in sepsis in a rat model

Our previous studies have shown that activating alpha 7nAChRs suppresses systemic inflammation and immunity through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) in early sepsis. Now that the medullary visceral zone (MVZ) is the center of CAP and responsible for regulating systemic inflammation, what changes will occur in MVZ's pathology and function in sepsis, especially when interfering with alpha 7nAChRs? Does activation of MVZ's alpha 7nAChRs contribute to the inhibition of systemic inflammation? To clarify these issues, we explored the systemic inflammation and immunity state by detecting serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, HMGB1, sCD14, and CD4+CD25+Treg and TH17 lymphocytes percentage, meanwhile, we analyzed the apoptosis of cholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons and the expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) in MVZ in sepsis and the interfering effects on alpha 7nAChRs. In this study, we found that in sepsis, serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, HMGB1, sCD14, CD4+CD25+Treg, and TH17 lymphocytes significantly increased and the ratio of Treg/TH17 significantly decreased, cholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons underwent apoptosis with low expressions of TH and CHAT in MVZ; activation of alpha 7nAChRs not only significantly decreased the levels of septic serum TNF-alpha, IL-6, HMGB1, sCD14, and TH17 lymphocytes (P < 0.05), but also significantly reduced cholinergic and catecholaminergic neurons' apoptosis, and promoted expressions of TH/CHAT. Our study reveals that sepsis undermines MVZ through neuroinflammation which contributes to the uncontrolled systemic inflammation. Activating central alpha 7nAChRs is not only helpful to restore MVZ's structure and function but also beneficial to subside the inflammatory storm in sepsis. Even if MVZ is damaged in sepsis, cholinergic neurons in MVZ still regulate the systemic inflammation stably.