The proinflammatory cytokine IL-18 has central anorexigenic effects and was proposed to contribute to loss of appetite observed during sickness. Here we tested in the mouse the hypothesis that IL-18 can decrease food intake by acting on neurons of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), a component of extended amygdala recently shown to influence feeding via its projections to the lateral hypothalamus (LH). We found that both subunits of the heterodimeric IL-18 receptor are highly expressed in the BST and that local injection of recombinant IL-18 (50 ng/ml) significantly reduced c-fos activation and food intake for at least 6 h. Electrophysiological experiments performed in BST brain slices demonstrated that IL-18 strongly reduces the excitatory input on BST neurons through a presynaptic mechanism. The effects of IL-18 are cell-specific and were observed in Type III but not in Type I/II neurons. Interestingly, IL-18-sensitve Type III neurons were recorded in the juxtacapsular BST, a region that contains BST-LH projecting neurons. Reducing the excitatory input on Type III GABAergic neurons, IL-18 can increase the firing of glutamatergic LH neurons through a disinhibitory mechanism. Imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory activity in the LH can induce changes in food intake. Effects of IL-18 were mediated by the IL-18R because they were absent in neurons from animals null for IL-18Rα (Il18ra-/-), which lack functional IL-18 receptors. In conclusion, our data show that IL-18 may inhibit feeding by inhibiting the activity of BST Type III GABAergic neurons.

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 18 regulates feeding by acting on the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis / Francesconi, Walter; Sánchez Alavez, Manuel; Berton, Fulvia; Alboni, Silvia; Benatti, Cristina; Mori, Simone; Nguyen, William; Zorrilla, Eric; Moroncini, Gianluca; Tascedda, Fabio; Conti, Bruno. - In: THE JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE. - ISSN 0270-6474. - 36:18(2016), pp. 5170-5180. [10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3919-15.2016]

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 18 regulates feeding by acting on the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

ALBONI, Silvia;BENATTI, Cristina;TASCEDDA, Fabio;
2016

Abstract

The proinflammatory cytokine IL-18 has central anorexigenic effects and was proposed to contribute to loss of appetite observed during sickness. Here we tested in the mouse the hypothesis that IL-18 can decrease food intake by acting on neurons of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), a component of extended amygdala recently shown to influence feeding via its projections to the lateral hypothalamus (LH). We found that both subunits of the heterodimeric IL-18 receptor are highly expressed in the BST and that local injection of recombinant IL-18 (50 ng/ml) significantly reduced c-fos activation and food intake for at least 6 h. Electrophysiological experiments performed in BST brain slices demonstrated that IL-18 strongly reduces the excitatory input on BST neurons through a presynaptic mechanism. The effects of IL-18 are cell-specific and were observed in Type III but not in Type I/II neurons. Interestingly, IL-18-sensitve Type III neurons were recorded in the juxtacapsular BST, a region that contains BST-LH projecting neurons. Reducing the excitatory input on Type III GABAergic neurons, IL-18 can increase the firing of glutamatergic LH neurons through a disinhibitory mechanism. Imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory activity in the LH can induce changes in food intake. Effects of IL-18 were mediated by the IL-18R because they were absent in neurons from animals null for IL-18Rα (Il18ra-/-), which lack functional IL-18 receptors. In conclusion, our data show that IL-18 may inhibit feeding by inhibiting the activity of BST Type III GABAergic neurons.
2016
36
18
5170
5180
The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 18 regulates feeding by acting on the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis / Francesconi, Walter; Sánchez Alavez, Manuel; Berton, Fulvia; Alboni, Silvia; Benatti, Cristina; Mori, Simone; Nguyen, William; Zorrilla, Eric; Moroncini, Gianluca; Tascedda, Fabio; Conti, Bruno. - In: THE JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE. - ISSN 0270-6474. - 36:18(2016), pp. 5170-5180. [10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3919-15.2016]
Francesconi, Walter; Sánchez Alavez, Manuel; Berton, Fulvia; Alboni, Silvia; Benatti, Cristina; Mori, Simone; Nguyen, William; Zorrilla, Eric; Moroncini, Gianluca; Tascedda, Fabio; Conti, Bruno
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1102730
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