Electrical stimulation of vagus nerve could combat inflammatory bowel disease

Wei Yang, professor of anesthesiology and associate professor of neurology, Duke School of MedicineOne surprising finding of this study is that inhibiting SUMOylation appears to mimic the beneficial effects of vagal stimulation, resulting in improved clinical symptoms of colitis."

Researchers have long noted that stress plays a significant role in exacerbating IBD symptoms, and some have even described ulcerative colitis as psychosomatic.

"Although previous studies have suggested the role of the vagus nerve, our study demonstrates that its effect is mediated through regulating SUMOylation, he said.

Ulloa warns that not all patients may respond similarly, and translating the findings from lab studies to clinical settings could lead to varying outcomes, or no benefit at all. The approach, called "bioelectronic medicine," is part of an emerging field where nerve stimulation is being explored to treat various inflammatory conditions from rheumatoid arthritis to Crohn's disease.

Source:

Duke University

Journal reference: