A role for interleukin 17A in IBD-related neuroplasticity.

Background: Changes to the structure and function of the innervation of the gut contribute to symptom generation in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). However, delineation of the mechanisms of these effects has proven difficult. Previous work on sympathetic neurons identified interleukin (IL)-17A as a novel neurotrophic cytokine.

Sustained neurochemical plasticity in central terminals of mouse DRG neurons following colitis.

Sensitization of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons is an important mechanism underlying the expression of chronic abdominal pain caused by intestinal inflammation. Most studies have focused on changes in the peripheral terminals of DRG neurons in the inflamed intestine but recent evidence suggests that the sprouting of central nerve terminals in the dorsal horn is also important. Therefore, we examine the time course and reversibility of changes in the distribution of immunoreactivity for substance P (SP), a marker of the central terminals of DRG neurons, in the spinal cord during and following dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.

Participation of interleukin 17A in neuroimmune interactions.

Inflammation involving the helper T cell 17 (Th17) subset of lymphocytes has been implicated in a number of diseases that affect the nervous system. As the canonical cytokine of Th17 cells, interleukin 17A (IL-17A) is thought to contribute to these neuroimmune interactions. The main receptor for IL-17A is expressed in many neural tissues.

Effects of inflammation on the innervation of the colon.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease lead to altered gastrointestinal (GI) function as a consequence of the effects of inflammation on the tissues that comprise the GI tract. Among these tissues are several types of neurons that detect the state of the GI tract, transmit pain, and regulate functions such as motility, secretion, and blood flow. This review article describes the structure and function of the enteric nervous system, which is embedded within the gut wall, the sympathetic motor innervation of the colon and the extrinsic afferent innervation of the colon, and considers the evidence that colitis alters these important sensory and motor systems.

An electromyographic analysis of shoulder function in tennis players.

Shoulder injuries in tennis players are common because of the repetitive, high-magnitude forces generated around the shoulder during the various tennis strokes. An understanding of the complex sequences of muscle activity in this area may help reduce injury, enhance performance, and assist the rapid rehabilitation of the injured athlete. The supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, middle deltoid, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, and serratus anterior muscles were studied in six uninjured male Division II collegiate tennis players using dynamic electromyography (EMG) and synchronized high-speed photography.