Immune response in neuroinflammation

Cytokines are numerous pleiotropic peptides secreted in response to insults including antigens. These polypeptides mediate immune and inflammatory responses. Cytokine synthesis occurs through gene transcription (mRNA) followed by cell activation. Cytokines can act in concert with other cytokines, and some may have a stimulatory effect, while others an inhibitory effect. In addition, they can mediate physiological immune states, but can also induce inflammation with serious consequences. In the central nervous system (CNS), even if the number of white immune cells is low, cytokines play an important role, both physiological and pathological, during inflammatory states. In neuroinflammatory pathological states, microglia are involved, a producing source of cytokines that can cause alteration of homeostasis, tissue damage, destruction of neurons, and pathological changes . However, it is uncertain whether cytokines may play a role in brain tissue degeneration.