Neuroimmunology: Interferon-gamma tunes the rhythm.

摘要

GABAergic inhibition has an important role in generating and regulating synchronized activity in neuronal networks, but how GABA activity is itself dynamically regulated is unknown. Zhu et al. now show that interferon-induced, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) disinhibits GABA transmission and thereby contributes to network rhythmicity. The authors showed that mice lacking PKR (Pkr~(-/-) mice) and wild-type mice treated with a PKR inhibitor (PKRi) showed hypersynchronous activity in the cortex and hippocampus.