Specific neurons with an immune ‘doorbell’ may influence mood and memory

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a key molecule involved in inflammation and plays an important role in both healthy and diseased states. In disease, high levels of IL-1 in the brain are linked to neuroinflammation, which can disrupt the body’s stress response, cause sickness-like behaviors, worsen inflammation by activating brain immune cells, and allow immune cells from the body to enter the brain. It also can lead to brain damage by causing support cells to produce harmful molecules. Elevated IL-1 levels are associated with mood disorders, such as depression, and problems with memory and thinking.

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