title: A dual role for interleukin-1 in hippocampal-dependent memory processes.
abstract: Ample research demonstrates that pathophysiological levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) produces detrimental effects on memory functioning. However, recent evidence suggests that IL-1 may be required for the normal physiological regulation of hippocampal-dependent memory. To substantiate the physiological role of IL-1 in learning and memory we examined the induction of IL-1 gene expression following a learning experience, and the effects of IL-1 signaling blockade, by either genetic or pharmacological manipulations, on memory functioning. We show that IL-1 gene expression is induced in the hippocampus 24h following fear-conditioning in wild type mice, but not in two mouse strains with impaired IL-1 signaling. Moreover, we report that mice with transgenic over-expression of IL-1 receptor antagonist restricted to the CNS (IL-1raTG) display impaired hippocampal-dependent and intact hippocampal-independent memory in the water maze and fear-conditioning paradigms. We further demonstrate that continuous administration of IL-1ra via osmotic minipumps during prenatal development disrupt memory performance in adult mice, suggesting that IL-1 plays a critical role not only in the formation of hippocampal-dependent memory but also in normal hippocampal development. Finally, we tested the dual role of IL-1 in memory by intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of different doses of IL-1beta and IL-1ra following learning, providing the first systematic evidence that the involvement of IL-1 in hippocampal-dependent memory follows an inverted U-shaped pattern, i.e., a slight increase in brain IL-1 levels can improve memory, whereas any deviation from the physiological range, either by excess elevation in IL-1 levels or by blockade of IL-1 signaling, results in impaired memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91905, Israel.
authors.forename: Inbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goshen
authors.forename: Tirzah
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kreisel
authors.forename: Hadile
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ounallah-Saad
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Renbaum
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zalzstein
authors.forename: Tamir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ben-Hur
authors.forename: Efrat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levy-Lahad
authors.forename: Raz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yirmiya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1