Potential neuroprotective strategies for perinatal infection and inflammation

• Preterm born infants have high rates of brain injury, leading to motor and neurocognitive problems in later life. Infection and resulting inflammation of the fetus and newborn are highly associated with these disabilities. However, there are no established neuroprotective therapies. Microglial activation and expression of many cytokines play a key role in normal brain function and development, as well as being deleterious. Thus, treatment must achieve a delicate balance between possible beneficial and harmful effects. In this review, we discuss potential neuroprotective strategies targeting systemic infection or the resulting systemic and central inflammatory responses. We highlight the central importance of timing of treatment and the critical lack of studies of delayed treatment of infection/inflammation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Perinatal

Infection

Inflammation

Cytokines

Brain injury

White matter

Lipopolysaccharide

white-matter injury

low-birth-weight

extremely preterm infants

neonatal-rat brain

oligodendrocyte lineage progression

hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

necrosis-factor-alpha

periventricular

leukomalacia

systemic inflammation

cerebral-palsy

Developmental Biology

Neurosciences & Neurology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)