Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41254402›Full record

ArticleMolecular neurobiology2025

Polyinosinic Polycytidylic Acid (poly I:C) Induces Neuronal Cell Death Through NF-κB-Mediated Inflammation in Human Microglia and Neuroinflammation-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Mice.

Aseel Y Altahrawi, Antonisamy William James, Zahoor A Shah

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular neurobiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Combined Exposure to low Levels of CdBiological trace element research · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Accelerated epigenetic aging as a modifier of homocysteine-associated cognitive decline: Findings from NHANES.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Aseel Y AltahrawiDepartment of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-5737-7052
Antonisamy William JamesDepartment of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8299-3610
Zahoor A ShahDepartment of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA. Zahoor.shah@utoledo.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8977-1618

Funding

Cofilin Signaling in Hemorrhagic StrokeR01NS112642 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO HEALTH SCI CAMPUS · PI SHAH, ZAHOOR AHMAD · 2020 to 2024
$1.9M
NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS112642NINDS NIH HHS R01NS112642
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Neuroinflammation and neuronal death are direct consequences of persistent microglial activation, a phenomenon observed in many chronic neurological conditions. Activated microglia impact neuronal cells by releasing proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators, leading to neuronal damage and neurodegeneration. To investigate whether polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), a synthetic double-stranded RNA molecule, induces neuroinflammation and neuronal death, we exposed human microglia (HMC-3 cells) to poly I:C for 24 h, and performed inflammatory cytokine analysis. Additionally, to investigate whether poly (I:C) induces memory impairment and motor coordination deficits in mice, we conducted a behavioral assessment and also measured the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the brain. Poly (I:C) exposure significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of inflammasome, proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-18) and chemokines in microglia. Poly (I:C) also significantly increased the translocation of NF-kB from the cytosol to the nucleus. Furthermore, the conditioned medium from poly (I:C)-treated cells markedly increased apoptosis in human neuronal cells (differentiated SHSY5Y cells) by activating pro-apoptotic markers, including Bax, Bad, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, and AIF. Mice exposed to poly (I:C) showed a significant increase in mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-α, in the hippocampus. A decrease in the percentage of alternation on the T-maze, reduced distance travelled, and average speed in the open field test indicate cognitive deficits as well as anxiety-like behavior in mice exposed to poly (I:C). These findings suggest that poly (I:C) induces neuroinflammation through the inflammasome and proinflammatory mediators via the NLRP3/NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionMicrogliaNeuroinflammatory DiseasesPoly I-CAnimalsAnxietyApoptosisCell DeathCell LineChemokinesCytokinesHippocampusHumansInflammasomesMaleMiceChemokinesCytokinesInflammasomesNF-kappa BNLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 ProteinPoly I-CMemory impairmentNeuroinflammationNeuronal deathPoly (I:C)Proinflammatory cytokines

Identifiers

PMID41254402
PMCPMC12627129

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.