Interleukin-2 and its effects in the central nervous system.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is not only an important immunoregulatory molecule: it is also an important neuroregulatory molecule in the CNS. Investigations in vivo and in vitro have elucidated the following: IL-2 and IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) have been detected in the brain; IL-2 promotes survival and neurite extension of cultured neurons, stimulates oligodendrocyte proliferation and maturation, affects the hypothalamic-pituitary function and produces behavioral and electrocorticogram spectrum changes. Investigations in some laboratories, including ours, have also demonstrated an analgesic effect of IL-2 in the CNS. The molecular structure of the analgesic domain of IL-2 is distinct from the immune domain mediating immunoregulatory effects. A possible mechanism of action of cytokines on the CNS and the immune system or both exists: multiple actions of cytokines could be mediated by distinct domains or functional sites of cytokines interacting with different receptors or receptor subtypes.
Department of Neurobiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
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D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology; D002450:Cell Communication; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007107:Immune System; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D007376:Interleukin-2