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Cytokine targets in the brain: impact on neurotransmitters and neurocircuits (84.4)
Author(s) -
Miller Andrew
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.84.4
Subject(s) - cytokine , neuroscience , anhedonia , amygdala , immune system , functional magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , dopamine , basal ganglia , psychology , immunology , central nervous system
Activation of the immune system and release of cytokines can lead to behavioral changes. Given the association of immune activation with medical illness as well as psychological stress, such cytokine‐induced behavioral changes may contribute to the high rate of depression, anxiety and other behavioral alterations observed in the medically ill and the chronically stressed. Using the anti‐viral cytokine, interferon‐alpha, our group and others have demonstrated that cytokines can access the brain and alter the function of the basal ganglia as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. Cytokine‐induced alterations in basal ganglia function in turn have been associated with motor slowing, anhedonia and fatigue and appear to be mediated by alterations in dopamine metabolism. Cytokines also appear to activate brain areas including the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex that are associated with anxiety, arousal and alarm. Together, these cytokine effects on behavior may subserve evolutionary survival priorities during infection and/or wounding to conserve energy to fight pathogens and heal wounds while at the same time increasing vigilance against attack. Chronic activation of these brain circuits during illness or stress, however, may lead to behavioral pathologies in vulnerable individuals, which may be uniquely treated by therapies targeting the immune system.