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IL-6

·March 21, 2025·6 min read

Targeting Brain’s Drainage Pathways Rejuvenates Memory

Rejuvenating the brain's lymphatic vessels can enhance memory in aging mice by improving the removal of waste products from the brain. This research suggests that targeting the meningeal lymphatics—vessels outside the brain—could be a novel approach to treating age-related cognitive decline without directly crossing the blood-brain barrier.

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·July 12, 2024·6 min read

Infection Brain Inflammation Triggers Muscle Weakness

A new study reveals how brain inflammation from infections and neurodegenerative diseases causes muscle weakness by releasing the IL-6 protein. Researchers found that IL-6 travels from the brain to muscles, reducing their energy production and function. This discovery could lead to treatments for muscle wasting in diseases like Alzheimer's and long COVID. Blocking the IL-6 pathway may prevent muscle weakness associated with brain inflammation.

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·March 13, 2023·4 min read

Epilepsy Could Become Easier to Pinpoint With Blood Test

Higher levels of immune proteins are present in the blood both before and after an epileptic seizure. Researchers say the biomarkers can be identified via a simple blood test.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 16, 2022·5 min read

Inflammation May Explain Antidepressants’ Link to Preterm Birth

The common antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine) provokes an inflammatory response in the amniotic sac. The findings may reveal the underlying factor of why women who take SSRI antidepressants are at higher risk of preterm birth.

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·November 3, 2022·3 min read

Inflammation May Amplify Effect of Genetic Risk Variants for Schizophrenia

Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta and IL-6 stimulate the expression of the schizophrenia-related C4A gene. Patients with high C4A expression displayed increased levels of IL-1 beta in cerebral spinal fluid samples. C4A levels were also correlated with markers of synaptic density. Findings reveal inflammation enhances the genetic risk variant for schizophrenia.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 26, 2021·4 min read

Drug Designed for Alzheimer’s Disease May Hold Promise for Treating Glioblastoma

A class of drugs called BACE1 inhibitors, originally designed to treat Alzheimer's disease, shows potential for the treatment of glioblastoma brain cancer.

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·November 1, 2021·3 min read

Social Isolation Linked to Higher Markers of Inflammation in Older Adults

Blood samples taken from older adults who experienced social isolation had higher levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein, two biomarkers of inflammation.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 20, 2021·3 min read

Physical Exercise Modulates Iron in Alzheimer’s Disease

Regular exercise modulates iron storage and trafficking in the brain and skeletal muscles, and physical activity reduces cortical hepcidin. The findings reveal how exercise can be beneficial for those with Alzheimer's disease.

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·June 4, 2020·3 min read

Proteins in the blood of COVID-19 patients could help predict how ill they will become

Researchers have identified 27 protein biomarkers that can predict whether a patient with COVID-19 is likely to develop severe coronavirus symptoms.

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·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.

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·May 14, 2020·4 min read

Arthritis drug Anakinra may improve respiratory function in some patients with severe COVID-19

Anakinra, a clinically approved anti-inflammatory used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, improves respiratory function in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.

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Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 3, 2020·2 min read

Arthritis Drug Presents Promise as Treatment for COVID-19 Pneumonia

UCSD has launched a Phase III clinical trial to assess whether tocilizumab (Actemra), a drug commonly prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders, has therapeutic value for those at risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection. The drug is a monoclonal antibody-based therapy that blocks receptors for interleukin-6, a cytokine that triggers inflammation as an early immune response to coronavirus. Blocking IL-6 could prevent the risk of the COVID-19 associated cytokine storm many with severe infection experience.