Review
Immunology
Xingyun Zhao, Shifen Wang, Shengjun Wang, Jue Xie, Dawei Cui
Summary: This review systematically summarizes the role of the mTOR signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), regulatory T cell dysfunction, and the treatment of SLE.
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Daniel Mrak, Michael Bonelli, Helga Radner
Summary: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with complex and diverse manifestations. Involvement of the nervous system, known as neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE), presents with a wide range of symptoms. However, diagnosing and treating NPSLE remains challenging due to the lack of specific biomarkers or imaging techniques, and limited therapeutic options.
CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wojciech Lubon, Malgorzata Lubon, Przemyslaw Kotyla, Ewa Mrukwa-Kominek
Summary: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease, with up to one-third of patients experiencing various ocular manifestations. Ocular findings may be the initial signs of the disease and can lead to severe complications and vision loss. Early diagnosis and proper management are crucial, requiring collaboration among specialists. Adequate preparation of ophthalmologists can help differentiate SLE complications from other eye disorders. New therapies for SLE show promise, but their ocular side effects are still unknown.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Antonis Fanouriakis, Myrto Kostopoulou, Jeanette Andersen, Martin Aringer, Laurent Arnaud, Sang-Cheol Bae, John Boletis, Ian N. Bruce, Ricard Cervera, Andrea Doria, Thomas Doerner, Richard A. Furie, Dafna D. Gladman, Frederic A. Houssiau, Luis Sousa Ines, David Jayne, Marios Kouloumas, Laszlo Kovacs, Chi Chiu Mok, Eric F. Morand, Gabriella Moroni, Marta Mosca, Johanna Mucke, Chetan B. Mukhtyar, Gyoergy Nagy, Sandra Navarra, Ioannis Parodis, Jose M. Pego-Reigosa, Michelle Petri, Bernardo A. Pons-Estel, Matthias Schneider, Josef S. Smolen, Elisabet Svenungsson, Yoshiya Tanaka, Maria G. Tektonidou, Y. K. Onno Teng, Angela Tincani, Edward M. Vital, Ronald F. van Vollenhoven, Chris Wincup, George Bertsias, Dimitrios T. Boumpas
Summary: The EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been updated based on emerging new evidence. The updated recommendations provide consensus guidance on the use of various medications and treatment strategies to control the disease, as well as recommendations for assessing treatment response and tapering therapy.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Jingru Tian, Dingyao Zhang, Xu Yao, Yaqing Huang, Qianjin Lu
Summary: This study estimated the epidemiology of SLE globally, finding variations in incidence and prevalence rates across different countries and regions. It also highlighted the impact of gender, age, and prevalence estimation method on the findings. SLE was found to occur more frequently in high-income countries.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jessica S. Kleer, Pascal A. Rabatscher, Jessica Weiss, Joel Leonardi, Severin B. Vogt, Andrea Kieninger-Grafitsch, Carlo Chizzolini, Uyen Huynh-Do, Camillo Ribi, Marten Trendelenburg
Summary: The study found that epitope-specific anti-C1q in SLE patients is associated with specific disease manifestations, providing more diagnostic value than conventional anti-C1q.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Xingyue Zeng, Mohan Zheng, Tianci Liu, Ayibaota Bahabayi, Rui Kang, Qinzhu Xu, Xiayidan Alimu, Songsong Lu, Ying Song, Chen Liu
Summary: This study identified changes in T-cell factor-1 (TCF1) in circulating T-cell subsets of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and explored their significance in SLE. The findings suggest that changes in TCF1-related subsets can reflect disease activity and abnormal humoral immunity in SLE patients.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Mingxuan Chi, Kuai Ma, Yunlong Li, Min Quan, Zhongyu Han, Zhaolun Ding, Xin Liang, Qinxiu Zhang, Linjiang Song, Chi Liu
Summary: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a typical autoimmune disease characterized by multiple immunoregulatory abnormalities that lead to damage to various tissues and organs. Researchers have identified aberrant expression of miRNAs in SLE patients, which may be associated with abnormal immune responses and disease progression in SLE.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Dionysis Nikolopoulos, Dimitrios Kitsos, Matilda Papathanasiou, Noemin Kapsala, Panagiotis Garantziotis, Antigone Pieta, Ourania Gioti, Alexandros Grivas, Konstantinos Voumvourakis, Dimitrios Boumpas, Antonis Fanouriakis
Summary: In a large SLE cohort, CNS demyelinating syndromes were characterized as neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) or SLE-MS overlap. Patients with SLE-MS overlap had a higher likelihood of neurologic relapses, while those with SLE-demyelination were less likely to have neurological deficits at the last follow-up visit.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Ali Duarte-Garcia, Mehmet Hocaoglu, Maria Valenzuela-Almada, Shirley-Ann Osei-Onomah, Jesse Y. Dabit, Alain Sanchez-Rodriguez, Stephanie Q. Duong, Rachel E. Giblon, Hannah E. Langenfeld, Graciela S. Alarcon, Charles G. Helmick, Cynthia S. Crowson
Summary: The incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are increasing in the US population, potentially due to the rising ethnic diversity. However, the severity of SLE and the survival gap between SLE and the general population have remained unchanged over time.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Christina Adamichou, Irini Genitsaridi, Dionysis Nikolopoulos, Myrto Nikoloudaki, Argyro Repa, Alessandra Bortoluzzi, Antonis Fanouriakis, Prodromos Sidiropoulos, Dimitrios T. Boumpas, George K. Bertsias
Summary: A machine learning algorithm was developed to assist in the diagnosis of SLE by analyzing patient data sets, leading to improved diagnostic and treatment outcomes.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Eric F. Morand, Gabriel Abreu, Richard A. Furie, Vera Golder, Raj Tummala
Summary: A post hoc analysis reveals that treatment with anifrolumab in patients with SLE leads to earlier, more frequent, and more sustained attainment of LLDAS. LLDAS is highly associated with responses measured by BICLA and SRI(4).
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Merve Benli, Fareeha Batool, Celine Stutz, Catherine Petit, Sophie Jung, Olivier Huck
Summary: Studies have shown that SLE patients are at higher risk of compromised oral and dental health, with an increased risk of periodontal diseases and temporomandibular joint disorders. The use of systemic drugs, especially immunosuppressive and anticoagulants in SLE patients, may impact their oral management. Results emphasize the importance of early appropriate oral management of these patients to improve oral health-related quality of life and prevent the need for more invasive therapeutics. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for the dental and medical management of such patients.
Review
Rheumatology
Courtney Stull, Grant Sprow, Victoria P. Werth
Summary: The majority of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit skin manifestations, which can be classified as SLE-specific or SLE-nonspecific based on histopathologic findings. SLE-specific skin diseases include chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), subacute CLE, and acute CLE, each with different subsets of skin lesions and varying likelihood of associated SLE. SLE-nonspecific lesions are more common and tend to coincide with active systemic disease, and can also be seen in other connective tissue diseases. Familiarity with the spectrum of cutaneous diseases in SLE is important for rheumatologists to prognosticate systemic disease likelihood and ensure timely dermatologic care for controlling disease activity and preventing damage.
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Huai-Chia Chuang, Wei-Ting Hung, Yi-Ming Chen, Pu-Ming Hsu, Jeng-Hsien Yen, Joung-Liang Lan, Tse-Hua Tan
Summary: Multiple germline and somatic variants of the MAP4K3 (GLK) gene were found in patients with SLE, leading to increased GLK expression through mRNA or protein stability.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Sven Benson, Laura Rebernik, Daniel Pastoors, Alexandra Brinkhoff, Alexander Wegner, Sigrid Elsenbruch, Harald Engler
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Sven Benson, Harald Engler, Alexander Wegner, Manfred Schedlowski, Sigrid Elsenbruch
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julie Lasselin, Mats Lekander, Sven Benson, Manfred Schedlowski, Harald Engler
Summary: Depression is a major cause of disability globally, with limited treatment options, but the emerging role of inflammation in its etiology and pathophysiology highlights the need for novel therapies. Experimental endotoxemia in healthy volunteers provides a safe and standardized translational approach to develop and test new therapeutic options against inflammation-associated depression, aiming to improve personalized treatment and increase overall response rates.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Lennart Barthel, Harald Engler, Martin Hadamitzky, Laura Lueckemann, Ulrich Sure, Manfred Schedlowski, Susann Hetze
Summary: The study introduced a microsurgical technique for collecting large quantities of uncontaminated CSF from rats, which is easy to perform without special surgical skills and can result in multiple high volume CSF collections in a short surgical time.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Uta Hoppmann, Harald Engler, Sabrina Krause, Edit Rottler, Julia Hoech, Franziska Szabo, Peter Radermacher, Christiane Waller
Summary: This study aimed to elucidate the impact of social stress on the CA system and inflammation markers in patients suffering from CAD and depression. The results showed that patients with both CAD and depression exhibited significantly lower epinephrine and dopamine levels compared to other groups at baseline.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ann-Katrin Fleck, Stephanie Hucke, Flavio Teipel, Melanie Eschborn, Claudia Janoschka, Marie Liebmann, Haleluya Wami, Lisanne Korn, Geethanjali Pickert, Marvin Hartwig, Timo Wirth, Martin Herold, Kathrin Koch, Maren Falk-Paulsen, Ulrich Dobrindt, Stjepana Kovac, Catharina C. Gross, Philip Rosenstiel, Marcel Trautmann, Heinz Wiendl, Detlef Schuppan, Tanja Kuhlmann, Luisa Klotz
Summary: The study demonstrates that conjugated linoleic acid can modulate gut-CNS axis by targeting myeloid cells in the intestine, which in turn control encephalitogenic T-cell responses. These anti-inflammatory effects are not affected by microbiome eradication and show significant improvements in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Article
Anesthesiology
Katharina Schmidt, Tobias Berding, Julian Kleine-Borgmann, Harald Engler, Dagny Holle-Lee, Charly Gaul, Ulrike Bingel
Summary: Positive treatment expectation plays an important role in the efficacy of preventive treatment for migraine, especially in chronic migraine patients and those with prior treatment experience.
Article
Biology
Laura R. Koenen, Robert J. Pawlik, Adriane Icenhour, Ljubov Petrakova, Katarina Forkmann, Nina Theysohn, Harald Engler, Sigrid Elsenbruch
Summary: Through functional magnetic resonance imaging studies in healthy humans, Koenen et al. investigated the process of negative pain-related expectations formed and sustained by classical conditioning. They found that conditioned responses to interoceptive threat predictors were enhanced, primarily involving the insula and cingulate cortex. Interoceptive threats had a greater impact on extinction efficacy, suggesting a preference for learning and remembering interoceptive danger signals in the face of multiple threats.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Correction
Biology
Laura. R. Koenen, Robert. J. Pawlik, Adriane Icenhour, Liubov Petrakova, Katarina Forkmann, Nina Theysohn, Harald Engler, Sigrid Elsenbruch
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Anna K. Koch, Margarita Schoels, Heidemarie Haller, Dennis Anheyer, Zehra Cinar, Ronja Eilert, Kerstin Kofink, Harald Engler, Sigrid Elsenbruch, Holger Cramer, Gustav Dobos, Jost Langhorst
Summary: The study demonstrates that a comprehensive lifestyle-modification program can effectively reduce perceived stress in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis in the medium-term. Additionally, there is potential for further research on these effects in a laboratory setting. Furthermore, exploring ways to maintain the effects of lifestyle modification in the long term is desirable.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Melanie Eschborn, Marc Pawlitzki, Timo Wirth, Christopher Nelke, Steffen Pfeuffer, Andreas Schulte-Mecklenbeck, Lisa Lohmann, Leoni Rolfes, Katrin Pape, Maria Eveslage, Stefan Bittner, Catharina C. Gross, Tobias Ruck, Heinz Wiendl, Sven G. Meuth, Luisa Klotz
Summary: This study revealed age-related changes in immune cell composition in patients with multiple sclerosis, especially in the CD8 T-cell compartment. The expression of immunoregulatory molecules decreased with age in healthy donors but not in MS patients, while the increase in CD226 expression on memory CD8 T cells with age was absent in MS patients. This suggests a dysregulation of immune signals in MS and premature immune aging in young MS patients, with potential implications for disease severity.
NEUROLOGY-NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Susan Truempelmann, Andreas Schulte-Mecklenbeck, Olga Steinberg, Timo Wirth, Manfred Fobker, Lisa Lohmann, Jan D. Lunemann, Heinz Wiendl, Catharina C. Gross, Luisa Klotz
Summary: The impact of distinct disease-modifying therapies on the efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis is still unclear. This study investigated the immune responses in patients receiving interferon beta, natalizumab, and ocrelizumab before and after vaccination. The results showed that different therapies had different effects on humoral and cellular immune responses.
CTS-CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Steffen Pfeuffer, Leoni Rolfes, Timo Wirth, Falk Steffen, Marc Pawlitzki, Andreas Schulte-Mecklenbeck, Catharina C. Gross, Marcus Brand, Stefan Bittner, Tobias Ruck, Luisa Klotz, Heinz Wiendl, Sven G. Meuth
Summary: Immunoadsorption demonstrated better outcomes compared to double-dose methylprednisolone for treating steroid-refractory acute multiple sclerosis relapses, and modulation of B cell function may be a potential mechanism of action for immunoadsorption.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Robert J. Pawlik, Liubov Petrakova, Alexandra Cueillette, Katharina Krawczyk, Nina Theysohn, Sigrid Elsenbruch, Harald Engler
Summary: Inflammation may affect the formation and persistence of interoceptive fear and hypervigilance, which is relevant to psychiatric disorders and chronic pain. Two studies were conducted to analyze the effects of inflammation on fear learning and extinction, using endotoxemia as a model and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Despite robust inflammatory and emotional responses, no direct effects of inflammation on fear ratings or the formation/extinction of conditioned fear were observed. However, inflammation during fear acquisition enhanced neural responses to interoceptive but not exteroceptive stimuli during extinction learning, and resulted in enhanced negative valence ratings for interoceptive stimuli during unexpected re-exposure.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jost Langhorst, Anna K. Koch, Christina Kehm, Oezlem Oeznur, Harald Engler, Winfried Haeuser
Summary: This study investigated the effects of water-filtered infrared-A whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) versus sham hyperthermia on pain intensity in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The results showed that WBH effectively reduced pain intensity in FMS patients.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Letter
Immunology
Wan-Ju Cheng, Hong-Mo Shih, Kuan-Pin Su, Po-Ren Hsueh
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Felipe Kenji Sudo, Talita P. Pinto, Fernanda G. Q. Barros-Aragao, Ivanei Bramati, Theo F. Marins, Marina Monteiro, Fernanda Meireles, Rejane Soares, Pilar Erthal, Victor Calil, Naima Assuncao, Natalia Oliveira, Joana Bondarovsky, Camila Lima, Beatriz Chagas, Alana Batista, Julia Lins, Thais L. Pinheiro, Felippe Mendonca, Andrea Silveira de Souza, Fernanda C. Rodrigues, Gabriel R. de Freitas, Pedro Kurtz, Paulo Mattos, Erika C. Rodrigues, Fernanda G. De Felice, Fernanda Tovar-Moll
Summary: Post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC) is a multisystemic syndrome that persists for months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, affecting cognitive function and neuropsychiatric features. A study on COVID-19 survivors in Brazil found that these patients experienced significant difficulties in overall cognition, memory, working memory, and inhibitory control, as well as fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. In addition, elevated levels of inflammatory markers in the blood were associated with brain microstructural damage and cognitive impairments.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Letter
Immunology
Tieh-Cheng Fu, Juei-Chao Chen, Ching-Mao Chang
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Aastha Dheer, Dale B. Bosco, Jiaying Zheng, Lingxiao Wang, Shunyi Zhao, Koichiro Haruwaka, Min-Hee Yi, Abhijeet Barath, Dai-Shi Tian, Long-Jun Wu
Summary: Microglial activation plays a crucial role in the pathology of epilepsy, with both acute and prolonged activation affecting seizure severity and neuronal loss.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Julie B. Rosenberg, Jens Richardt Mollegaard Jepsen, Parisa Mohammadzadeh, Astrid Sevelsted, Rebecca Vinding, Mikkel E. Sorensen, David Horner, Kristina Aagaard, Birgitte Fagerlund, Susanne Brix, Nilofar Folsgaard, Ann -Marie M. Schoos, Jakob Stokholm, Bo Chawes, Christos Pantelis, Soren Dalsgaard, Birte Y. Glenthoj, Niels Bilenberg, Klaus Bonnelykke, Bjorn H. Ebdrup
Summary: Clinical data demonstrates a strong association between prenatal maternal inflammation assessed by hs-CRP and a diagnosis of ADHD by age 10. Maternal inflammation is also associated with ADHD symptom load in the entire cohort.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Suzanne M. Green-Fulgham, Michael J. Lacagnina, Kendal F. Willcox, Jiahe Li, Michael E. Harland, Adriano Polican Ciena, Igor R. Correia Rocha, Jayson B. Ball, Renee A. Dreher, Younus A. Zuberi, Joseph M. Dragavon, Marucia Chacur, Steven F. Maier, Linda R. Watkins, Peter M. Grace
Summary: Regular aerobic activity, specifically voluntary wheel running, can reduce the risk of chronic pain by inhibiting MAC and preserving myelin integrity at the site of peripheral nerve injury.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
India Boyton, Stella M. Valenzuela, Lyndsey E. Collins-Praino, Andrew Care
Summary: Neuronanomedicine is a multidisciplinary field that aims to develop innovative nanotechnologies for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Nanoparticles are an important component of neuronanomedicine, as they can improve drug properties and enhance safety and delivery across the blood-brain barrier. However, a major challenge for neuronanomedicine translation is the poor understanding of bio-nano interactions, partly due to inconsistent reporting in published works. This review provides specific recommendations to guide researchers in harnessing the unique properties of nanoparticles for breakthrough treatments of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Celine De Looze, Cathal McCrory, Aisling O'Halloran, Silvia Polidoro, Rose Anne Kenny, Joanne Feeney
Summary: Our study found that subjective measures of stress and biological metrics may be independently associated with cognitive function over time in older adults, hinting at potential different underlying mechanisms.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Beatrice Bravi, Elisa Maria Teresa Melloni, Marco Paolini, Mariagrazia Palladini, Federico Calesella, Laura Servidio, Elena Agnoletto, Sara Poletti, Cristina Lorenzi, Cristina Colombo, Francesco Benedetti
Summary: Depressed patients show changes in immune-inflammatory markers in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The Choroid Plexus, located at the base of the brain ventricles, plays a key role in regulating the exchange of substances between the brain and immune cells. Patients with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder have larger Choroid Plexus volumes compared to healthy controls. Age and levels of circulating cytokines are associated with Choroid Plexus volumes in the clinical groups.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Mingxuan Zheng, Huaiyu Ye, Xiaoying Yang, Lijun Shen, Xuemei Dang, Xiaoli Liu, Yuying Gong, Qingyuan Wu, Li Wang, Xing Ge, Xiaoli Fang, Benchi Hou, Peng Zhang, Renxian Tang, Kuiyang Zheng, Xu-Feng Huang, Yinghua Yu
Summary: Obesity is linked to cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative disease. The connection between the gut microbiota and the brain is altered in obesity. The probiotic Clostridium butyricum can improve cognitive impairment caused by obesity and prevent gut microbiota dysbiosis and inflammation.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Edward Drydale, Phalguni Rath, Katie Holden, Gregory Holt, Laurissa Havins, Thomas Johnson, James Bancroft, Lahiru Handunnetthi
Summary: This study created a novel three-dimensional neurosphere assay using induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation and live cell imaging techniques to investigate the effect of a simulated viral infection on cortical development. The findings demonstrated that the infection led to reduced radial glial growth and neural migration.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Yuancheng Weng, Ningting Chen, Rui Zhang, Jian He, Xukai Ding, Guo Cheng, Qianqian Bi, Ying-mei Lu, Xiao Z. Shen, Shu Wan, Peng Shi
Summary: This study reveals that microglia is the primary cellular source of PDGFB in adults, and microglial PDGFB is crucial for maintaining BBB integrity in adult mice.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Evan A. Bordt, Haley A. Moya, Young Chan Jo, Caitlin T. Ravichandran, Izabella M. Bankowski, Alexis M. Ceasrine, Christopher J. Mcdougle, William A. Carlezon Jr, Staci D. Bilbo
Summary: There is a strong male bias in many neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, but the mechanisms behind this bias are unknown. Infection during the perinatal period increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. Using a mouse model, researchers found that early-life immune activation only induced deficits in social behaviors in male mice. These behavioral changes were associated with alterations in microglial immune signaling, mitochondrial morphology, gene expression, and function specifically in microglia, the brain's innate immune cells. Furthermore, the vulnerability to early-life immune activation and its effects on behavior and microglial mitochondria were programmed by the male-typical perinatal gonadal hormone surge. These findings highlight the role of microglia-specific mechanisms shaped by early developmental events in regulating male social behavior throughout lifespan.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Maria Amalia Di Castro, Stefano Garofalo, Alessandro Mormino, Laura Carbonari, Erika Di Pietro, Eleonora De Felice, Myriam Catalano, Laura Maggi, Cristina Limatola
Summary: Cytokines, such as interleukin-15 (IL-15), play important roles in modulating the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, the authors found that exposure to IL-15 enhances GABA release and reduces glutamatergic currents in hippocampal slices. Chronic treatment with IL-15 has negative effects on memory formation. Serotonin is involved in mediating these effects, as a selective 5-HT3A receptor antagonist prevents the effects on inhibitory neurotransmission and improves performance in a memory test.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Nikhitha Sreenivas, Michael Maes, Hansashree Padmanabha, Apoorva Dharmendra, Priyanka Chakkera, Saptamita Paul Choudhury, Fazal Abdul, Thrinath Mullapudi, Vykuntaraju K. Gowda, Michael Berk, John Vijay Sagar Kommu, Monojit Debnath
Summary: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a spectrum of conditions with both common and differing characteristics in terms of phenome, symptomatome, neuropathology, risk factors and underlying mechanisms. This study investigates the possibility of a shared immune etiology among three early-onset NDDs, namely Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Intellectual Disability Disorder (IDD).
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)