Mechanisms Underlying Inflammation in Neurodegeneration

• Published in: Cell Vol. 140; no. 6; pp. 918 - 934
• Main Authors: Glass, Christopher K., Saijo, Kaoru, Winner, Beate, Marchetto, Maria Carolina, Gage, Fred H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 19.03.2010
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Animals; Brain - pathology; Convergence; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - drug therapy; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - pathology; Inflammation - physiopathology; Movement disorders; Multiple sclerosis; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases - drug therapy; Neurodegenerative Diseases - immunology; Neurodegenerative Diseases - pathology; Neurodegenerative Diseases - physiopathology; Neurotoxicity; Parkinson's disease
• ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172; 0020-7683; 1097-4172
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.02.016

Inflammation is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. In this Review, we discuss inducers, sensors, transducers, and effectors of neuroinflammation that contribute to neuronal dysfunction and death. Although inducers of inflammation may be generated in a disease-specific manner, there is evidence for a remarkable convergence in the mechanisms responsible for the sensing, transduction, and amplification of inflammatory processes that result in the production of neurotoxic mediators. A major unanswered question is whether pharmacological inhibition of inflammation pathways will be able to safely reverse or slow the course of disease.