[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

cancer increases the prevalence of mood disorders may be due to neuroimmune consequences of
the tumors themselves.
Disclosures: L.M. Pyter, None; V.M. Pineros, None; J.A. Galang, None; M.K. McClintock,
None; B.J. Prendergast, None.
Poster
280. Stress and the Brain: Stress and Neuroimmunology I
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 280.10/NN10
Topic: E.06.c. Stress and neuroimmunology
Support: NIH HL088083-02
Title: Hypothalamic action of interleukin 18
Authors: S. ALBONI 1,3 , D. CERVIA 1,4 , B. ROSS 1,2 , F. TASCEDDA 3 , M. SANCHEZ-
ALAVEZ 1,2 , E. ZORRILLA 1,2 , *B. CONTI 1,2 ;
1 MIND, 2 The Harold L. Dorris Neurolog. Res. Inst., Scripps Resch Inst., La Jolla, CA; 3 Univ. of
Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; 4 Univ. of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Abstract: The pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a central anorexigenic
agent and a regulator of energy efficiency. In order to understand the sites and the mechanisms
of action of interleukin 18 in the central nervous system, we characterized members of the IL-18
family in the mouse brain. IL-18 and the two IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) heterodimer IL-18RI and
IL-18 RAcP, as well as the soluble IL-18 inhibitor IL-18 Binding Protein (IL-18BP), were
cloned in the CNS of normal C57B/6 mice. In situ hybridization showed extensive neuronal
localization of IL-18R in the cortex, the hippocampus, and the hypothalamus. In addition to the
canonical IL-18RI, a truncated variant of this receptor subunit was identified. In vitro studies on
hypothalamic cell lines demonstrate that in neurons IL-18 action activates different signaling
than in cells of the immune system.
Disclosures: S. Alboni, None; D. Cervia, None; B. Ross, None; F. Tascedda, None; M.
Sanchez-Alavez, None; E. Zorrilla, None; B. Conti , None.
Poster