Patent ID: 7769442

Claim:
A method for inhibiting release of a proinflammatory mediator from a mammalian cell, the method comprising: identifying a mammalian subject suffering from, or at risk for, a disease or disorder mediated by a proinflammatory mediator; and applying a stimulation signal to the subject in an amount effective to inhibit the release of the proinflammatory mediator, wherein the stimulation signal is directly applied to a splenic nerve, a splenic neurovascular bundle, a periarterial splenic nerve, splenic peritoneum, splenic tissue, celiac plexus surrounding a celiac artery, a celiac ganglion, an aorticorenal ganglion, a greater thoracic splanchnic nerve, a lesser thoracic splanchnic nerve, a least thoracic splanchinc nerve or a combination thereof.