Vagus nerve stimulation significantly inhibits the increased expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, HMGB-1, and IL-17A in post-ischemic myocardial tissue, increases anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels in both the ischemic and nonischemic regions, reduces the number of infiltrated macrophages, and decreases the signal intensity for cytokines involved in the recruitment of neutrophils (LIX) and macrophages (MCP-1) in the heart in rat models of ischemia/reperfusion injury.47 Here, TNF is linked to ischemia.