Immune System in the Brain: A Modulatory Role on Dendritic Spine Morphophysiology?

Figure 3

Interleukin-2 is involved in developmental processes such as neuronal dendritic arborization, and it induces a significant increase in spinogenesis and dendritic filopodia motility. Activated microglia release significant amounts of inflammatory mediators that induce neuronal death, synapse remodeling, and destabilization of synaptic contacts. IL-2: interleukin-2; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-alpha; IL-1β: interleukin-1 beta; IL-6: interleukin-6; LPS: lipopolysaccharide.