Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Strategies for Study of Neuroprotection from Cold-preconditioning
Published on: September 3, 2010
Role and mechanisms of interleukin-1 in the modulation of neurotoxicity
Xiaoling C Ma1, Paul E Gottschall, Li T Chen
1Department of Anatomy, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 336124-4799, USA.
Objective:
Recent studies on cerebral ischemia in the rat have demonstrated that administration of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) markedly reduces the volumes of infarcts which are associated with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated neurotoxicity. These observations suggested that endogenous interleukin-1 (IL-1) may be involved in the mediation of excitotoxic neuronal injury following ischemia.
Method:
In the present studies, we examined the role of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in NMDA-related and microglia-induced excitotoxicity in cocultures of mixed neurons and microglia.
Results:
Our observations in these mixed cultures indicated that addition of IL-1beta exaggerated NMDA and glutamate-evoked hippocampal neuron death. Addition of microglia, activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), to cocultures of cortical neurons and glia induced significantly greater neurotoxicity when compared with cocultures of cortical neurons and untreated microglia. This neurotoxicity did not require that activated glia be in cell-to-cell contact with neurons. Addition of either IL-1ra or the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 to cocultures of cortical neurons and activated glia partially reversed the neuronal damage mediated by activated microglia. Finally, IL-1beta concentrations in the supernatant of cocultures of cortical neurons and microglia treated by LPS and IFN-gamma were markedly increased when compared with coculture of neurons with untreated microglia.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that both the NMDA receptor and the IL-1 receptor are involved in microglia-mediated neurotoxicity.
Related Concept Videos
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
Toxic Reactions: Overview
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Inflammatory Response
Inflammation can be triggered by various stimuli, such as impact, abrasion, chemical irritation, infections, and extreme hot or cold temperatures. These can damage cells and connective tissue fibers,...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

