Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation is a complex biological process characterized by the activation of the innate immune system within the central nervous system (CNS) in response to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, metabolic toxic aggregates, or injury. It is primarily mediated by the activation of microglia and astrocytes, which release a variety of pro-inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxygen species (StatPearls, 2023). While acute neuroinflammation serves as a defense mechanism to protect the brain, chronic or dysregulated neuroinflammation is a key driver of neurodegeneration and is central to the pathology of diseases like Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis (Nature Reviews Immunology, 2020). Because it is a multi-faceted physiological state involving numerous signaling pathways and cell types, it is considered a pathological process or therapeutic area rather than a single discrete molecular target. Therapeutic interventions usually focus on specific molecular components within this process, such as the NLRP3 inflammasome or specific cytokine receptors, to restore CNS homeostasis (Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2021).

Other names

Brain inflammationCentral nervous system inflammationCNS inflammationNeural inflammation

Modulation of glial activation, inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and stabilization of the blood-brain barrier.