#Cytokines

New research from MIT and Harvard Medical School shows that cytokines—immune molecules that battle infections—also influence brain function and behavior. The findings suggest that illness can alter mood and social interactions not only through fatigue but via direct immune-brain connections. This could help explain aspects of conditions such as autism and depression.

Among the cytokines studied, IL-17 appears to have region-specific effects in the brain. In the amygdala, IL-17 heightens anxiety, while in the somatosensory cortex it seems to increase sociability. The results highlight a complex dialogue between the immune system and neural circuits, pointing to new avenues for understanding how immune activity shapes behavior during illness.

Recent cutting-edge research from MIT and Harvard Medical School reveals that cytokines, immune molecules that play a crucial role in fighting infections, also affect brain functions, inducing profound behavioral changes such as anxiety or increased sociability. This discovery opens new avenues for understanding the interconnectedness of the immune and nervous systems and illuminates potential pathways for treating neurological conditions like autism and depression.

Cytokines, including a variety named IL-17, have been the focus of these transformative studies. Researchers discovered that IL-17 operates in the brain’s distinct regions—the amygdala and the somatosensory cortex—eliciting contrasting effects. Within the amygdala, IL-17 induces anxiety, while in the cortex, it promotes sociability. These dual roles underscore a complex interaction between the brain and immune system, suggesting that behavioral changes during illness are not solely due to physical fatigue but also to brain functions being directly modulated by immune activity.

A new study from researchers at MIT and Harvard Medical School reveals that the immune molecule IL-17 can influence social behavior and anxiety by acting directly on specific brain regions. The research shows IL-17 has a dual role: it enhances sociability by dampening neuron activity in the cortex, while it increases anxiety by heightening excitability in the amygdala. In effect, IL-17 appears to function as a neuromodulator, linking immune system activity with how we feel and behave. This insight could inform future approaches to conditions such as autism and depression, according to the study’s findings and interpretations from leading neuroscience outlets.

Recent research led by MIT and Harvard Medical School has uncovered the intriguing role that the immune molecule interleukin-17 (IL-17) plays in shaping social behavior and anxiety by acting directly on specific brain regions. This groundbreaking study reveals that IL-17 serves dual functions: enhancing sociability by reducing neuron excitability in the brain’s cortex and triggering anxiety by increasing excitability in the amygdala. These findings suggest IL-17 acts like a neuromodulator, drawing a fascinating link between immune system activity and behavioral outcomes, with potential implications for the treatment of conditions like autism and depression (Neuroscience News).

A new wave of research from MIT and Harvard shows that immune molecules, specifically cytokines, influence the brain as well as defending the body against infection. Infections trigger cytokine responses, but these molecules can also affect emotions like anxiety and sociability. The findings open pathways for treating neurological conditions such as autism and depression, with potential relevance for Thai patients and caregivers.

Cytokines such as Interleukin-17 (IL-17) drive inflammation and coordinate immune cells. Earlier work noted IL-17’s ability to lessen autism-like symptoms during fever, prompting deeper questions about its brain actions. In studies led by researchers including Gloria Choi of MIT and Jun Huh of Harvard, IL-17’s effects were mapped to brain regions controlling fear and social behavior. Published in Cell, the research shows IL-17 can heighten anxiety in the amygdala while promoting sociability in the cortex, depending on the receptor pair it engages.

Recent groundbreaking research from MIT and Harvard University reveals a fascinating intersection between the immune and nervous systems that may redefine our understanding of illness and behavior. Immune molecules, known as cytokines, have long been recognized for their role in fighting infections; however, these studies unveiled their significant impact on the brain, influencing emotions such as anxiety and sociability. This new insight could have profound implications for treating a range of neurological conditions, including autism and depression.