Cytokines are small proteins that play an important role in keeping our brain and nervous system healthy. They help protect nerve cells but can also cause damage if the balance isn’t right. These proteins are made by different types of cells, including nerve cells, supporting cells, and immune cells.
Some cytokines help protect nerve cells. Here are a couple of them:
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF): This cytokine helps nerve cells grow and stay alive. It also helps them recover after an injury, showing how it protects the brain.
Interleukin-10 (IL-10): This one is known for reducing inflammation. IL-10 helps create a safe environment for nerve cells, which lowers the risk of cell death.
On the other hand, some cytokines can damage nerve cells, especially when inflammation lasts a long time:
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α): When TNF-α levels are too high, it can cause nerve cells to die. This is often seen in diseases like Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.
Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β): This cytokine can harm nerve cell function and survival when there’s too much of it, showing its harmful effects.
It’s important to have the right balance between these different effects:
Short-term Phase: After an injury, the quick release of protective cytokines helps the healing process and supports the growth of new nerve cells.
Long-term Phase: If inflammation continues for too long, the harmful cytokines can take over, leading to more damage.
In short, cytokines work together in the nervous system, playing both protective and damaging roles. Understanding how these cytokines interact is key to developing new treatments for various nervous system disorders.
Cytokines are small proteins that play an important role in keeping our brain and nervous system healthy. They help protect nerve cells but can also cause damage if the balance isn’t right. These proteins are made by different types of cells, including nerve cells, supporting cells, and immune cells.
Some cytokines help protect nerve cells. Here are a couple of them:
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF): This cytokine helps nerve cells grow and stay alive. It also helps them recover after an injury, showing how it protects the brain.
Interleukin-10 (IL-10): This one is known for reducing inflammation. IL-10 helps create a safe environment for nerve cells, which lowers the risk of cell death.
On the other hand, some cytokines can damage nerve cells, especially when inflammation lasts a long time:
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α): When TNF-α levels are too high, it can cause nerve cells to die. This is often seen in diseases like Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.
Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β): This cytokine can harm nerve cell function and survival when there’s too much of it, showing its harmful effects.
It’s important to have the right balance between these different effects:
Short-term Phase: After an injury, the quick release of protective cytokines helps the healing process and supports the growth of new nerve cells.
Long-term Phase: If inflammation continues for too long, the harmful cytokines can take over, leading to more damage.
In short, cytokines work together in the nervous system, playing both protective and damaging roles. Understanding how these cytokines interact is key to developing new treatments for various nervous system disorders.