Physics

Pathology

Neuroscience

Receptor

Tumor necrosis factor alpha

Disease

Central nervous system

Biology

Neuroinflammation

Proinflammatory cytokine

Psychology

Metaplasticity

Immunology

Inflammation

Neurodegeneration

Microglia

Synaptic plasticity

Neuroplasticity

Biochemistry

Medicine

Plasticity

Immune system

Thermodynamics

Brain and Neuroscience Advances

Cytokines are proteins secreted in the central nervous system by neurons, microglia, astrocytes and infiltrating peripheral immune cells under physiological and pathological conditions. Over the last 20 years, a growing number of reports have investigated the effects of these molecules on brain plasticity. In this review, we describe how the key cytokines interleukin 1β, interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor α were found to support long-term plasticity and learning and memory processes in physiological conditions. In contrast, during inflammation where cytokines levels are elevated such as in models of brain injury or infection, depression or neurodegeneration, the effects of cytokines are mostly detrimental to memory mechanisms, associated behaviours and homeostatic plasticity.

The role of cytokines in modulating learning and memory and brain plasticity