Central nervous system inflammatory and cytokine pathways (CNS inflammatory pathways)

Central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory and cytokine pathways encompass the coordinated signaling networks and cellular activities that drive immune responses within the brain and spinal cord. These pathways are primarily mediated by resident glial cells, including microglia and astrocytes, which respond to pathological insults by secreting a variety of cytokines such as Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) (DiSabato et al., 2016, J Neurochem). While transient activation of these pathways is essential for tissue repair and defense against pathogens, chronic or dysregulated neuroinflammation is a central driver of neuronal damage in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Multiple sclerosis (Glass et al., 2010, Cell). Pharmacological intervention typically targets specific nodes within these pathways, such as cytokine receptors or intracellular signaling kinases, to mitigate the neurotoxic effects of sustained inflammation (Becher et al., 2017, Immunity). However, therapeutic development is challenged by the dual role of many cytokines in both neuroprotection and neurodegeneration, as well as the difficulty of achieving effective drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier (Mamik & Power, 2017, J NeuroVirol).

Other names

Neuroinflammation pathwaysCNS cytokine signalingNeuroinflammatory cascadeBrain inflammatory response

Modulation of neuroinflammatory responses through the antagonism of pro-inflammatory cytokine receptors, neutralization of circulating cytokines (e.g., Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Interleukin-1 beta), inhibition of glial cell activation, and restriction of peripheral immune cell infiltration across the blood-brain barrier (Tansey et al., 2022, Nat Rev Immunol).