Novel Inflammatory Neuropathology in Immature Brain: 1. Fetal Tuberous Sclerosis; 2. Febrile Seizures; 3. α-B-crystallin; 4. Role of Astrocytes

Though the term “inflammation” is traditionally defined as proliferation or infiltration of lymphatic cells of the lymphatic immune system and macrophages or as immunoreactive proteins including cytokines, interleukins and major histocompatibility complexes, recently recognized reactions to tissue injury also a re inflammation, often occurring in the CNS in conditions where they previously were not anticipated and where they may play a role in both pathogenesis and repair. We highlight four such novel inflammatory conditions revealed by neuropathological studies: 1) inflammatory markers and cells in the br ain of human fetuses with tuberous sclerosis complex and perhaps other disorders of the mTOR genetic/metabolic pathway; 2) inflammatory markers in the brain related to febrile seizures of infancy and early childhood; 3) heat-shock protein upregulation in glial cells and neurons at sites of chronic e pileptic foci; and 4) the emerging role of astrocytes in the presence of and participation in inflammation.
Source: Seminars in Pediatric Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research