Eirini Tsilioni

My research interests include studies on the role of neuroinflammation in a variety of diseases including but not limited to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We were able to report that: (a) NT stimulates human microglia to secrete the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and the chemokines CXCL8, CCL2, and CCL5 (c) IL-37 is increased in brains of children with ASD and inhibits human microglia stimulated by NT (d) IL-38 inhibits microglial inflammatory mediators and is decreased in amygdala of children with ASD. Since abnormal microglial growth and activation has been confirmed in the brain of ASD patients indicating inflammation it is crucial to understand what stimulates microglia. Exosomes are present in biofluids and carry molecules, which deliver directly to other cell types with the potential to induce or modify a disease. Triggers of microglia could be carried in exosomes. We have shown that extracellular vesicles are increased in the serum of children with ASD, contain mitochondrial DNA and stimulate human microglia to secrete IL-1β.