New Findings from University of California San Diego (UCSD) in the Area of Hydrocephalus Described (Hypersensitivity To Type I Interferon As a Cause of Hydrocephalus Development).

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) has found that hypersensitivity to type I interferon (IFN) may be a cause of hydrocephalus development. The study focused on mice lacking both type I IFN receptor subunit 1 (Ifnar1) and ubiquitin specific protease 18 (Usp18), and found that these mice did not display a hydrocephalus phenotype. The researchers also observed that suppression of USP18 in ependymal cells treated with IFN increased cell death and decreased proliferation, suggesting that heightened sensitivity to type I IFN during brain development contributes to the onset of hydrocephalus. The study concludes that inhibition of IFN signaling may hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for hydrocephalus. [Extracted from the article]