Interleukin-6 in the aging brain.
Astrocytes, microglia, and neurons express the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), which in the brain has been suggested to reduce food intake, inhibit memory and learning, cause neurodegeneration, and exacerbate sickness behavior induced by other cytokines. Recent evidence indicates IL-6 levels are increased in brain of healthy aged animals, thus it may play a role in the neurophysiological manifestations of old age. The purpose of this brief report is to discuss the new evidence that suggests an age-related increase in brain IL-6 and the impact this inflammatory cytokine may have on "successful" aging.
Godbout
J P
JP
Laboratory of Integrative Biology, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 61801, USA.
Johnson
R W
RW
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000276:immunology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D015850:Interleukin-6; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger