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cytokines

·April 26, 2024·4 min read

Maternal Cytokine Levels Linked to Child’s Mental Health

Researchers discovered a critical role for the cytokine XCL1 in fetal brain development and the emotional behavior of offspring, challenging previous assumptions about its low impact due to minimal circulating levels during pregnancy. The study shows that a temporary spike in maternal XCL1 is essential for proper placental development and regulating fear behavior in male offspring.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 27, 2023·6 min read

Study Maps Out Links Between Psychosis and Our Immune System

Findings reveal increased risk factors for psychosis in those with higher levels of certain cytokines involved in inflammation.

This shows a woman in a facemask holding a flower

Featured Neuroscience

·February 2, 2022·5 min read

Mechanism Behind Loss of Smell With COVID-19 Revealed

Infection with the SARS_CoV-2 virus causes dials down the action of olfactory receptors, resulting in smell loss associated with COVID-19.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 17, 2021·3 min read

Exercise Increases the Body’s Own ‘Cannabis’ Which Reduces Chronic Inflammation

For people with arthritis, exercise reduces pain and lowers levels of inflammatory cytokines. Exercise also increases the production of natural endocannabinoids. Researchers found the way exercise promotes these changes was due to altered gut microbes.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 16, 2021·4 min read

Neuroimmune Interactions and Brain Plasticity

Researchers examine how neuroimmune interactions promote brain plasticity and shed new light on how neuroimmune activity may have implications for a range of disorders, including neurological changes experienced by COVID-19 survivors.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 1, 2021·7 min read

Treatment Lets Obese Mice Lose Weight by Sweating Fat

Obese mice treated with the TSLP cytokine showed a significant loss in abdominal fat and weight. The fat loss was not associated with reduced food intake or faster metabolism, instead the cytokine stimulated the immune system to release lipids via the skin's oil-producing sebaceous glands.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·June 23, 2021·5 min read

Inflammatory Proteins May Slow Cognitive Decline in Aging Adults

Higher levels of two cytokines were associated with slower cognitive decline in aging adults, a new study reports.

This shows a bright red brain, implying inflammation

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 5, 2021·3 min read

A New Way to Halt Excessive Inflammation

The protein Arginase-2 works through mitochondria to reduce inflammation. The findings could lead to new treatments for diseases associated with neuroinflammation, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

This is a before and after image of the mouse

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 15, 2021·3 min read

Designer Cytokine Makes Paralyzed Mice Walk Again

Protein hyper-interleukin-6, a "designer protein" that has to be produced via genetic engineering, enabled a paralyzed mouse to walk again.

Featured Neurology

·October 13, 2020·4 min read

New Therapy Improves Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis

By fusing a cytokine to a blood protein, researchers have developed a new therapy to help treat multiple sclerosis.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 20, 2020·3 min read

COVID-19 cytokine storm: Possible mechanism for the deadly respiratory syndrome

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, enters human cells by attaching to ACE2 and utilizing TMPRSS2. Drugs that block ACE2 or inhibit the enzyme could help treat the coronavirus, but only during early infection. As the infection progresses, SARS-CoV-2 becomes engulfed in human cells, reducing the number of ACE2 receptors on a cell and leading to an increase of angiotensin II in the blood. Angiotensin II triggers an inflammatory pathway, providing a positive feedback cycle, named IL-6 amplifier, resulting in excessive immune activation and the cytokine storm associated with severe COVID-19.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 29, 2020·5 min read

How could Covid-19 and the body’s immune response affect the brain?

Mounting evidence suggests coronavirus affects the brain, in addition to the lungs. Researchers are examining the threat COVID-19 posses to long term brain health. They speculate maternal inflammation could lead to an increased risk of autism-like behaviors and neurodevelopment deficits in children born to mothers diagnosed with coronavirus. Other studies are exploring how the virus may spread in the nervous system via synaptic transmission.

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cytokines

Maternal Cytokine Levels Linked to Child’s Mental Health

Study Maps Out Links Between Psychosis and Our Immune System

Mechanism Behind Loss of Smell With COVID-19 Revealed

Exercise Increases the Body’s Own ‘Cannabis’ Which Reduces Chronic Inflammation

Neuroimmune Interactions and Brain Plasticity

Treatment Lets Obese Mice Lose Weight by Sweating Fat

Inflammatory Proteins May Slow Cognitive Decline in Aging Adults

A New Way to Halt Excessive Inflammation

Designer Cytokine Makes Paralyzed Mice Walk Again

New Therapy Improves Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis

COVID-19 cytokine storm: Possible mechanism for the deadly respiratory syndrome

How could Covid-19 and the body’s immune response affect the brain?

Study Challenges Link Between Football and Brain Protein Buildup

Spotting Silent Scars: A New Way to Detect Childhood Abuse

When Words Aren’t Enough: Autistic Adults Navigate Nonverbal Challenges

Protein Found to Strengthen Brain Cell Connections for Memory

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