Chronic IL-21 drives neuroinflammation and promotes lipid accumulation in microglia.

ABSTRACT: Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, driven by factors such as viral infections, autoimmune disorders, and peripheral inflammation. However, the mechanisms linking peripheral inflammation or viral infections to neuroinflammation remain poorly understood, limiting the development of effective therapies. Proinflammatory cytokines are implicated in these processes but their effects on brain cells, including microglia, remain insufficiently characterized. Here, we demonstrate that IL-21, a proinflammatory cytokine elevated in autoimmune disorders, chronic viral infections, and Alzheimer's disease, activates microglia and promotes lipid accumulation within these cells. Young, healthy mice injected with IL-21 to mimic chronic exposure

SUBMITTER: Oyamada H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12039274 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature