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Related Experiment Videos

"Inflammatory" cytokines: neuromodulators in normal brain?

L Vitkovic1, J Bockaert, C Jacque

  • 1CNRS-INSERM Centre de Pharmacologie-Endocrinologie, Montpellier, France.

Journal of Neurochemistry
|January 26, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Cytokines like interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are present in the normal brain, acting as neuromodulators. This suggests a broader role beyond inflammation for these key signaling molecules.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cytokines are traditionally viewed as inflammatory mediators.
  • Their role in the normal adult brain is not fully understood.
  • Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) are key 'proinflammatory' cytokines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and function of cytokines in the normal adult brain.
  • To determine if cytokines act as neuromodulators.
  • To challenge the predominant view of cytokines as solely inflammatory mediators.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on experimental evidence.
  • Analysis of studies on cytokine and receptor expression in neural tissues.
  • Examination of studies involving cytokine pathway blockade in vivo.

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Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests constitutive expression of IL-1 and TNFalpha genes by neurons and glial cells in the normal brain.
  • Bioactive cytokines and their receptors are present in various brain regions, acting on all neural cell types.
  • Blocking IL-1 or TNFalpha affects neural housekeeping functions, including sleep regulation.

Conclusions:

  • Cytokines, including IL-1 and TNFalpha, perform essential neural functions in the normal brain.
  • These cytokines are involved in synaptic plasticity, neural transmission, and calcium signaling.
  • Cytokines should be recognized as neuromodulators in addition to their inflammatory roles.