Complex Neuroimmune Involvement in Neurodevelopment: A Mini-Review

It is increasingly evident that cells and molecules of the immune system play significant roles in neurodevelopment. As perinatal infection is associated with the development of neurodevelopmental disorders, previous research has focused on demonstrating that the induction of neuroinflammation in the developing brain is capable of causing neuropathology and behavioral changes. Recent studies, however, have revealed that immune cells and molecules in the brain can influence neurodevelopment without the induction of overt inflammation, identifying neuroimmune activities as integral parts of normal neurodevelopment. This mini-review describes the shift in literature that has moved from emphasizing the intrusion of inflammatory events as a main culprit of neurodevelopmental disorders to evaluating the deviation of the normal neuroimmune activities in neurodevelopment as a potential pathogenic mechanism.

Automated summary

It has become increasingly clear that the immune system's cells and molecules play important roles in neurodevelopment. Previous research has focused on demonstrating that neuroinflammation in the developing brain can cause neuropathology and behavioral changes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent studies have shown that immune cells and molecules in the brain can influence neurodevelopment without overt inflammation, highlighting the significance of neuroimmune activities in normal neurodevelopment. This mini-review discusses the shift in literature, from emphasizing inflammatory events as the main culprits of neurodevelopmental disorders, to evaluating the deviations of normal neuroimmune activities as potential pathogenic mechanisms.