Scientists: Protein IL-17 fights infection, acts on the brain, inducing anxiety

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Andrew Neel from Pexels Immune molecules called cytokines play important roles in the body's defense against infection, helping to control inflammation and coordinating the responses of other immune cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that some of these molecules also influence the brain, leading to behavioral changes during illness. Two new studies from MIT and Harvard Medical School, focusing on a cytokine called IL-17, now add to that evidence. The researchers found that IL-17 acts on two distinct brain regions—the amygdala and the somatosensory cortex—to exert two divergent effects. In the amygdala, IL-17 can elicit feelings of anxiety, while in the cortex it promotes sociable behavior. These findings suggest that the immune and nervous systems are tightly interconnected, says Gloria C ... Read full article.