Innate Immune Response Clinical Trial
Official title:
The Effects of Concentration/Meditation on the Innate Immune Response During
The innate immune response is the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Ideally,
the inflammatory response is tightly regulated leading to both adequate protection to
invading pathogens as well as limitation of an exuberant or unwanted immune response such as
seen in sepsis or auto-immune diseases. It has become increasingly clear that the autonomic
nervous system (ANS) and the innate immune response are intimately linked. Activation of the
sympathetic division of ANS dampens inflammation via β2-adrenoceptors. On the other hand, in
some cases, sympathetic drive can also stimulate the inflammatory response via
α2-adrenoceptors. The parasympathetic branch of the ANS modulates the inflammatory response
as well, since it was discovered that electrical stimulation of the efferent vagus nerve in
rats greatly inhibits the innate immune response. Generally, the ANS is regarded as pure
autonomic which can not be influenced by behavior. However, trough special
concentration/mediation techniques mastered by certain individuals, it might be possible to
modulate ANS activity. In addition, recent unpublished findings indicate that these
concentration/meditation techniques can also influence the inflammatory response ex vivo.
In this study the investigators wish to investigate the effect of concentration/meditation
on the innate immune response in vivo. In addition the investigators wish to elucidate the
mechanism via which this effect is mediated. The investigators aim to use the so called
human endotoxemia model. This model permits elucidation of key players in the immune
response to a gram negative stimulus in vivo, therefore serving as a useful tool to
investigate potential novel therapeutic strategies in a standardized setting.
Objectives:
Primary objective: The primary objective of the study is to determine the effect of
concentration/meditation on the innate immune response induced by a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
challenge.
Secondary Objective(s):
1. To determine the effects of concentration/meditation on ANS activity.
Electroencephalography (EEG), heart-rate variability (HRV), muscle sympathetic nerve
activity and plasma concentrations of catecholamines will be measured for this purpose.
2. To determine if concentration/meditation can attenuate (subclinical) renal damage known
to occur during human endotoxemia, markers of proximal and distal tubular damage will
be measured at various time points.
n/a
Observational Model: Case-Only, Time Perspective: Prospective
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