Modulation of hippocampal plasticity by
The function of immune pathways in homeostatic neurobiology remains underexplored.
The researchers find that the inflammasome complex, typically associated with immune responses, is involved in memory-related and seizure processes in the adult murine brain.
Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that promote caspase-1-mediated interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-18 production in response to pathogens and tissue damage. The authors found that that inflammasome complex formation was regularly detected under homeostasis in hippocampal astrocytes and that its assembly is dynamically regulated in response to learning and regional activity.
Deletion of caspase-1 in astrocytes limited hyperexcitability in an acute seizure model and impacted hippocampal plasticity via modulation of synaptic protein density, neuronal activity, and perineuronal net coverage.
Caspase-1 and IL-18 regulated hippocampal IL-33 production and related plasticity.
These findings shed light on systems that could be impacted in several neurologic disease states involving inflammasome dysfunction or therapeutic targeting.
https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(25)00170-0
https://sciencemission.com/Inflammasome-signaling-in-astrocytes
