Basic Science of Neuroinflammation and Involvement of the Inflammatory Response in Disorders of the Nervous System

Abstract

Neuroinflammation is a key immune response observed in many neurologic diseases. Although an appropriate immune response can be beneficial, aberrant activation of this response recruits excessive proinflammatory cells to cause damage. Because the central nervous system is separated from the periphery by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that creates an immune-privileged site, it has its own unique immune cells and immune response. Moreover, neuroinflammation can compromise the BBB causing an influx of peripheral immune cells and factors. Recent advances have brought a deeper understanding of neuroinflammation that can be leveraged to develop more potent therapies and improve patient selection.

Keywords: Astrocytes; Lymphocytes; Macrophages; Microglia; Molecular imaging; Neuroinflammation; Neutrophils.