CXC chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8) and growth-related gene product alpha (GROalpha) modulate Purkinje neuron activity in mouse cerebellum.

We give here evidence that Purkinje neurons (PNs) of mouse cerebellar slices studied with patch clamp technique combined with laser confocal microscopy, respond to human IL-8 and GROalpha by (i) a cytosolic Ca2+ transient compatible with inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate (InsP3) formation; (ii) an enhancement of the neurotransmitter release; and (iii) an impairment of the long-term depression of synaptic strength (LTD). It was also found the expression of IL-8 receptor type 2 in PN and granule cells by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting and RT-PCR analysis. Considered together these findings suggest that IL-8 and GROalpha may play a neuromodulatory role on mouse cerebellum.