Beyond an Inflammatory Mediator: Interleukin-1 in Neurophysiology
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New Findings: What is the topic of this review? This review focuses on the physiological role of the cytokine interleukin-1β in the CNS. What advances does it highlight? Traditionally, interleukin-1β is known as a key mediator of inflammation and immunity. This review highlights the more recent findings describing how interleukin-1β signalling is required to maintain homeostasis in the CNS.
Abstract: Since its discovery in the early 1940s, the interleukin-1 (IL-1) cytokine family has been associated primarily with acute and chronic inflammation. The family member IL-1β is produced by different leucocytes, endothelial cells and epithelial cells. This cytokine has been characterized as a key modulator of inflammation and innate immunity because it induces the transcription of several downstream inflammatory genes. More recently, several groups have demonstrated that IL-1β production is also required to maintain homeostasis in several organ systems. This review focuses on providing an overview of the more recently characterized role of IL-1β in the physiology of the CNS. So far, IL-1β signalling has been implicated in neuronal survival, neurite growth, synaptic pruning, synaptic transmission, neuroplasticity and neuroendocrine functions.
Diaz-Ruiz R, Poca M, Roman E, Panadero-Gomez R, Cuyas B, Banares I Nutrients. 2025; 17(2.
PMID: 39861356 PMC: 11768058. DOI: 10.3390/nu17020226.
Beyond an inflammatory mediator: Interleukin-1 in neurophysiology.
Lima T Exp Physiol. 2023; 108(7):917-924.
PMID: 37031383 PMC: 10988528. DOI: 10.1113/EP090780.