Brain cytokines as neuromodulators in cardiovascular control

1. The role of cytokines in cardiovascular control, especially in neurogenic hypertension, has received considerable attention during the past few years. Brain cytokines have been shown to exert profound effects on neuronal activity. Recently, a number of studies have shown that administration of pro-inflammatory cytokines or anti-inflammatory cytokines into the central nervous system has a significant impact on sympathetic outflow, arterial pressure and cardiac remodelling in experimental models of hypertension and heart failure. 2. Our objective in this review is to present a succinct account of the effect of cytokines on neuronal activity and their role in cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, we propose a hypothesis for a neuromodulatory role of cytokines in the neural control of cardiovascular function.