Cytokines that signal through the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor-betacomplex in the nervous system

Cytokines that signal through the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor , such as LIF and ciliary neuronotrophic factor, have a wide range of roles within both the developing and mature nervous system. They play a vital ro le in the differentiation of neural precursor cells into astrocytes and can prevent or promote neuronal differentiation. One of the conundrums regardi ng signalling through the LIF receptor is how it can have multiple, often c onflicting roles in different cell types, such as enhancing the differentia tion of astrocytes while inhibiting the differentiation of some neuronal ce lls. Factors that can modulate signal transduction downstream of cytokine s ignalling, such as "suppressor of cytokine signalling" proteins, which inhi bit the JAK/STAT but not the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, may therefore play an important role in determining how a given cell will respo nd to cytokine signalling. This review discusses the general effects of cyt okine signalling within the nervous system, Special emphasis is placed on d ifferentiation of neural precursor cells and the role that regulation of cy tokine signalling may play in how a given precursor cell responds to cytoki ne stimulation.