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[Cytokines and psychiatry].
M Teresa Guereño1, Roberto A Diez
1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. farmaco@fmed.uba.ar
Vertex (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
|August 23, 2002
Summary
Cytokines, signaling molecules, impact the central nervous system (CNS), influencing sickness behavior. This review explores their role in mental disorders like depression and Alzheimer's disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Context:
- Cytokines are crucial signaling molecules involved in immune responses.
- The central nervous system (CNS) is increasingly recognized for its intricate relationship with the immune system.
- Understanding brain-cytokine interactions is vital for neurological and psychiatric research.
Purpose:
- To review the fundamental concepts of cytokines and their families.
- To elucidate the relationship between cytokines and the CNS.
- To examine the impact of cytokines on nervous system functions, including sickness behavior.
Summary:
- This review discusses cytokines, their families, and their connection to the CNS.
- It details cytokine effects on the nervous system, such as sickness behavior, and identifies cellular sources within the brain.
- Selected data highlights the involvement of cytokines in mental health conditions including depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and AIDS-related dementia.
Impact:
- Provides a foundational understanding of cytokine roles in the CNS.
- Highlights the link between immune signaling and neurological/psychiatric conditions.
- Informs future research directions for neuroinflammation and mental disorder treatments.