Second messenger systems in the regulation of cytokines and adhesion molecules in the central nervous system

Etty N. Benveniste, Brandon S. Huneycutt, Protul Shrikant, Mary E. Ballestas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cytokines are a group of secreted proteins that exhibit diverse biological activity and are especially important in immune and inflammatory responses. The inappropriate production of cytokines in the central nervous system (CNS) has been implicated in a number of disease states such as Alzheimer′s disease, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS dementia complex. This article focuses on the biological role of three cytokines in the CNS, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and nerve growth factor, with an emphasis on production by glial cells. We will discuss the diverse intracellular signaling pathways that regulate expression of these cytokines by glial cells and then describe the second messenger systems that mediate cytokine-induced responses in the CNS, with an emphasis on adhesion molecule expression. We conclude by discussing the complexities of signal transduction pathways, particularly “cross-talk” between different intracellular mediators.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)304-314
Number of pages11
JournalBrain Behavior and Immunity
Volume9
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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