What cytokines activate microglia?

Abstract. Microglia are activated in response to a number of different pathological states within the CNS including injury, ischemia, and infection. Microglial activation results in their production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α.

What is microglial activation?

Microglia become activated following exposure to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and/or endogenous damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and removal of the immune-suppressive signals. Activated microglia can acquire different phenotypes depending on cues in its surrounding environment.

What are cytokines in the brain?

Cytokines are proteins secreted in the central nervous system by neurons, microglia, astrocytes and infiltrating peripheral immune cells under physiological and pathological conditions. Over the last 20 years, a growing number of reports have investigated the effects of these molecules on brain plasticity.

How do cytokines affect the brain?

Through their effects on neurotransmitter systems, cytokines impact neurocircuits in the brain including the basal ganglia and anterior cingulate cortex, leading to significant changes in motor activity and motivation as well as anxiety, arousal, and alarm.

What is microglial inflammation?

Microglial cells are responsible for immune surveillance within the CNS. They respond to noxious stimuli by releasing inflammatory mediators and mounting an effective inflammatory response. This is followed by release of anti-inflammatory mediators and resolution of the inflammatory response.

Do microglia release cytokines?

Activated microglia at the site of inflammation change their morphology, express increased levels of MHC antigens and become phagocytic (Hayes et al., 1987; 1988). They release inflammatory cytokines that amplify the inflammatory response by activating and recruiting other cells to the brain lesion.

What is the purpose of microglia?

Microglia regulate brain development primarily through two routes: the release of diffusible factors and phagocytosis. Microglia phagocytize many products in the brain, including synaptic elements, living cells, dying or dead cells, and axons.

What do cytokines do to neurons?

Cytokines play crucial roles in the communication between brain cells including neurons and glia, as well as in the brain-periphery interactions. In the brain, cytokines modulate long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular correlate of memory.

What do cytokines stimulate?

Cytokines affect the growth of all blood cells and other cells that help the body’s immune and inflammation responses. They also help to boost anti-cancer activity by sending signals that can help make abnormal cells die and normal cells live longer. One specific type of cytokine is called a chemokine.