The cytokine IL-17 is expressed in the brain, but its function is not known. Chen et al. found that the Caenorhabditis elegans orthologue of IL-17 regulates the aggregation of worms following a rise in environmental oxygen and that it mediates this effect by enhancing the responsiveness of the RMG interneuron that coordinates this response to presynaptic input from oxygen sensors. Thus, IL-17 might act as a neuromodulator that can potentiate neural circuit function.
References
Chen, C. et al. IL-17 is a neuromoduator of Caenorhabditis elegans sensory responses. Nature http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature20818 (2017)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Whalley, K. A circuit modulator. Nat Rev Neurosci 18, 130 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2017.23
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2017.23