Tumor necrosis factor alpha and its receptors in behaviour and neurobiology of adult mice, in the absence of an immune challenge.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a vital component of the immune system and CNS. We previously showed that 3-month-old TNF-α and TNF-α receptor knockout mice had impaired cognition, whilst at 12-months-old mice had better cognition. To extend these findings on possible age-dependent TNF-α effects in the brain, we investigated the behaviour of 6-month-old TNF-α knockout mice and their neurobiological correlates.

Effects of centrally administered etanercept on behavior, microglia, and astrocytes in mice following a peripheral immune challenge.

Peripheral cytokines affect central nervous system (CNS) function, manifesting in symptoms of anxiety and cognitive decline. Although the peripheral blockage of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α has been effective in alleviating depression and rheumatoid arthritis, it is yet unknown whether central blockade of TNF-α is beneficial for immune-challenged CNS function. This study investigated the effects of central etanercept administration following a peripheral immune challenge on anxiety-like and cognition-like behaviors and microglia and astrocyte numbers.

TNF-α and its receptors modulate complex behaviours and neurotrophins in transgenic mice.

Unlabelled: Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays an important role not only in immunity but also in the normal functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). At physiological levels, studies have shown TNF-α is essential to maintain synaptic scaling and thus influence learning and memory formation while also playing a role in modulating pathological states of anxiety and depression. TNF-α signals mainly through its two receptors, TNF-R1 and TNF-R2, however the exact role that these receptors play in TNF-α mediated behavioural phenotypes is yet to be determined.