Immune Mediators of Pathology in Neurobrucellosis: From Blood to Central Nervous System

Neuroscience. 2019 Jul 1:410:264-273. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.05.018. Epub 2019 May 23.

Abstract

Neurobrucellosis, which is the most morbid form of brucellosis disease, presents with inflammatory signs and symptoms. Recent experimental evidence clearly indicates that deregulation of astrocytes and microglia caused by Brucella infection creates a microenvironment in the central nervous system (CNS) in which secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators lead to destabilization of the glial structure, the damage of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and neuronal demise. This review of Brucella interactions with cells of the CNS and the BBB is intended to present recent immunological findings that can explain, at least in part, the basis for the inflammatory pathogenesis of the nervous system that takes place upon Brucella infection.

Keywords: blood brain barrier; glial activation; neurobrucellosis; neuroinflammation; neurotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / immunology*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Brucellosis / immunology*
  • Brucellosis / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System / immunology*
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / physiology*
  • Immunologic Factors / immunology*
  • Immunologic Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors