TNF-Mediated Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: From in vitro to in vivo Models

Renu Heir; David Stellwagen

doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.565841

TNF-Mediated Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: From in vitro to in vivo Models

Front Cell Neurosci. 2020 Sep 30:14:565841. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2020.565841. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Renu Heir¹, David Stellwagen¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montréal, QC, Canada.

Abstract

Since it was first described almost 30 years ago, homeostatic synaptic plasticity (HSP) has been hypothesized to play a key role in maintaining neuronal circuit function in both developing and adult animals. While well characterized in vitro, determining the in vivo roles of this form of plasticity remains challenging. Since the discovery that the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mediates some forms of HSP, it has been possible to probe some of the in vivo contribution of TNF-mediated HSP. Work from our lab and others has found roles for TNF-HSP in a variety of functions, including the developmental plasticity of sensory systems, models of drug addiction, and the response to psychiatric drugs.

Keywords: TNF; addiction; developmental plasticity; homeostatic plasticity; inflammation.

Publication types

Review