Fig. 1

Schematic description of the signaling cascade of Oxytocinergic neurons in PVN. OXT binding to OXTR stimulates the transcription of EGFR, which leads to subsequent MAPK pathway activation. The Ca²⁺, influx into the cytoplasm via activated TRPV4 and release from PLC dependent pathway, interacts the ERK1/2 and MEK1/2 to regulate the subsequent transcription factor (CREB, CTRC, CD38). Furthermore, OXT binding also suppress the TLR4 mediated signaling cascade, which causes the inhibition of immune response genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, NLRP3). When ERβ is activated, intracellular cascades promote the transcription of OXT via CREB and coactivators. These signaling cascades ultimately buffer the molecular changes induced by stress. Image created with Biorender.com