Role Of Interleukin 1 Receptors In Brain Cell Signalling

Interest in interleukin-1 (IL-1) has increased dramatically over the last decade, but has been largely restricted to immunologists, cell biologists and those studying inflammation and cancer. However, it has recently been recognized that the brain directly controls or modulates many aspects of immune function, while molecules classically associated with the immune system, such as interleukin-1, are synthesised within the brain and act directly on the central nervous system to modify local and systemic functions. Thus, this topic is relatively new to neurobiologists, and this book is the first comprehensive description of current knowledge on interleukin-1 in the brain, including its location, synthesis and receptors, actions on behaviour, fever, metabolism, neuroendocrine function, electrical activity of the brain, nerve growth factor, and relationship to clinical indications. The book is organised into three sections. The first reviews the data available on the neural localisation of IL-1 and the nature of its central receptors.

The inflammasome was first described in 2002 as a molecular complex activating proinflammatory caspases and therefore regulating the maturation and biological activities of cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-18. This finding was substantiated by the identification of several mutations in the cias1 gene, encoding the human NLRP3 protein, responsible for several autoinflammatory disorders such as the Muckle Wells syndrome. Since, the interest for this complex has constantly increased and several inflammasome complexes with different specificities have been described. These inflammasomes sense a wide variety of pathogens and danger signals and are key players in the inflammatory response. With the contributions of leading international experts in the field, this book provides an extensive overview of the current knowledge of inflammasome biology and their role in health and disease.

Advances in itch research have elucidated differences between itch and pain but have also blurred the distinction between them. There is a long debate about how somatic sensations including touch, pain, itch, and temperature sensitivity are encoded by the nervous system. Research suggests that each sensory modality is processed along a fixed, direct-line communication system from the skin to the brain. Itch: Mechanisms and Treatment presents a timely update on all aspects of itch research and the clinical treatment of itch that accompanies many dermatological conditions including psoriasis, neuropathic itch, cutaneous t-cells lymphomas, and systemic diseases such as kidney and liver disease and cancer. Composed of contributions from distinguished researchers around the world, the book explores topics such as: Neuropathic itch Peripheral neuronal mechanism of itch The role of PAR-2 in neuroimmune communication and itch Mrgprs as itch receptors The role of interleukin-31 and oncostatin M in itch and neuroimmune communication Spinal coding of itch and pain Spinal microcircuits and the regulation of itch Examining new findings on cellular and molecular mechanisms, the book is a compendium of the most current research on itch, its prevalence in society, and the problems associated with treatment.

The immune system recruits a wide range of molecule groups and categories, each of which has its own function, property, and structure. Among these, interleukins play a pivotal role in supporting the immune and non-immune systems of the human body. Interleukins as effective cytokines participate in different conditions such as homeostasis, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. This unique property of interleukins makes them invaluable biomarkers that can be used as important biosensors. This book is divided into three sections: “Interleukins’ Classification and Evolutionary Features”, “Autoimmune Diseases and Low Immune System”, and “Cancer and Injuries”. Chapters examine the role of various interleukins in conditions such as leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergic and autoimmune diseases.

This Methods in Molecular Biology book offers methods for studying inflammasome function, including generation of inflammasome stimuli, monitoring of caspase-1 activity and processing, activation of IL-1β cytokines, plus lab protocols, material lists and tips.

It is now accepted that immune molecules are not only present within the brain during pathology but they exert physiological functions in the “healthy” brain as well. Increasing evidence points to a neuro-modulatory role of cytokines and chemokines (CHEMOtactic cytoKINES) in basal transmission and plasticity processes where signaling between peri-synaptic astrocytes, microglia and neurons plays an important role. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms as to how cytokines, and in particular chemokines, participate in the molecular and cellular processes thought to subserve memory formation, plasticity processes and responsiveness to environmental stimuli remain to be clarified. Interestingly, in in vitro preparations, molecules like TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, CX3CL1, CXCL12, CCL2 and CCL3 are implicated in synaptic formation and scaling, in modulation of glutamatergic transmission, in plasticity and neurogenesis, in particular in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is an extremely plastic structure, one of the main neurogenic niches in the adult brain, that exhibits a marked sensibility to environmental stimuli. Indeed exposure of mice to environmental enrichment (EE) modifies learning and memory abilities increasing neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity whether exposure to severe stressful experiences diminishes neurotrophic support, impairs neurogenesis, plasticity and cognition. In the hippocampus cytokines play a key role in mediating both positive as well as negative effects of the environment affecting neuronal plasticity also in stress related pathologies, such as depression. It has been reported that mice lacking type 1 receptor for IL-1 display impaired hippocampal memory and LTP that are restored by EE; moreover negative effects on neuronal plasticity (and thus behavior) induced by stress exposure can be prevented by blocking IL-1 activity. In addition, mice lacking IL-6 have improved cognitive functions whereas the absence of microglia-driven CX3CR1 signaling increases hippocampal plasticity and spatial memory occluding the potentiating effects of EE. However, the factors mediating the effect of environmental stimuli on behavior and plasticity has been only partially identified. Interestingly, it has been suggested that chemokines can play a key role in the flexibility of hippocampal structure and may modulate neuronal signaling during behavior. The question is how cytokines may translate environmental stimuli in plasticity and behavioral changes. This research topic is proposed to explore the role of cytokines, and more in particular chemokines, in the modulation of neuronal activity as a fundamental step for the correct brain wiring, function and susceptibility to environment. We encourage the submission of original research reports, review articles, commentaries, perspectives or short communications, in the following (but not limited to) topics: - Role of cytokines and chemokines in neuronal plasticity - Immune molecules and responsiveness to environment - Role of chemokine in the flexibility of hippocampal structure

This book mainly discusses the current status of stroke transnational research and allows the reader to understand the interplay of common comorbidities in the stroke population such as diabetes and hypertension, and provides insight into stroke targets to promote cell survival, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and most importantly, functional recovery after stroke. Throughout the world, stroke is still a leading cause of mortality and morbidity; each year approximately 15 million people worldwide suffer from stroke. Stroke is now the leading cause of death and disability in China. Large communities of stroke survivors are eagerly awaiting scientific advances in transnational stroke research that would offer neuroprotective therapeutics for acute stroke management, or rehabilitation and regenerative strategies utilizing novel stem cell-based approaches. While research is ongoing, the Editors have compiled this volume to help the further understanding of the pathophysiology of stroke and to review and identify future potential biomarkers. The book is written for students, researchers and physicians in neurosciences, neurology and neuroradiology.

Systems Immunology and Infection Microbiology provides a large amount of biological system models, diagrams and flowcharts to illustrate development procedures and help users understand the results of systems immunology and infection microbiology. Chapters discuss systems immunology, systems infection microbiology, systematic inflammation and immune responses in restoration and regeneration process, systems' innate and adaptive immunity in infection process, systematic genetic and epigenetic pathogenic/defensive mechanism during bacterial infection on human cells is introduced, and the systematic genetic and epigenetic pathogenic/defensive mechanisms during viral infection on human cells. This book provides new big data-driven and systems-driven systems immunology and infection microbiology to researchers applying systems biology and bioinformatics in their work. It is also invaluable to several members of biomedical field who are interested in learning more about those approaches. Encompasses one applicable example in every chapter to illustrate the solution procedure from big data mining, network modeling, host/pathogen cross-talk detection, drug target identification and systems drug design Presents flowcharts to represent the development procedure of systematic immunology and infection in a very clear format Contains 100 color diagrams to help readers understand the related biological networks, their corresponding mechanisms, and significant network biomarkers for therapeutic drug design