title: IL-4 in the brain: a cytokine to remember.
abstract: IL-4 has been extensively studied in the context of its role in immunity. Accumulating evidence indicates, however, that it also plays a critical role in higher functions of the normal brain, such as memory and learning. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the basic immunology of IL-4, describe how and where this cytokine appears to operate in normal brain function, and propose a hypothesis concerning its potential role in neurological pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
authors.forename: Sachin P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Gadani
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cronk
authors.forename: Geoffrey T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kipnis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C508598:IL4 protein, human; D015847:Interleukin-4