Role and mechanisms of cytokines in the secondary brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage

Prog Neurobiol. 2019 Jul:178:101610. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.03.003. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Abstract

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common and severe cerebrovascular disease that has high mortality. Few survivors achieve self-care. Currently, patients receive only symptomatic treatment for ICH and benefit poorly from this regimen. Inflammatory cytokines are important participants in secondary injury after ICH. Increases in proinflammatory cytokines may aggravate the tissue injury, whereas increases in anti-inflammatory cytokines might be protective in the ICH brain. Inflammatory cytokines have been studied as therapeutic targets in a variety of acute and chronic brain diseases; however, studies on ICH are limited. This review summarizes the roles and functions of various pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in secondary brain injury after ICH and discusses pathogenic mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies and directions for treatment of ICH.

Keywords: Cytokines; ICH; Inflammatory reaction; Secondary injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain Injuries / etiology
  • Brain Injuries / immunology*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / complications
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / immunology*
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / complications
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Inflammation / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines