Brain damage of the preterm infant: new insights into the role of inflammation. (20th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Van Steenwinckel, Juliette; Schang, Anne-Laure; Sigaut, Stéphanie; Chhor, Vibol; Degos, Vincent; Hagberg, Henrik; Baud, Olivier; Fleiss, Bobbi; Gressens, Pierre
• Is Part Of: Biochemical Society transactions. Volume 42:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 557
• Page End: 563
• Publication Date: 2014-03-20
• Subjects: cerebral palsy -- neurodevelopment -- neuroinflammation -- oligodendrocyte -- perinatal brain damage; Biochemistry -- Congresses; 572
• DOI: 10.1042/BST20130284
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-5127

Abstract

Abstract : Epidemiological studies have shown a strong association between perinatal infection/inflammation and brain damage in preterm infants and/or neurological handicap in survivors. Experimental studies have shown a causal effect of infection/inflammation on perinatal brain damage. Infection including inflammatory factors can disrupt programmes of brain development and, in particular, induce death and/or blockade of oligodendrocyte maturation, leading to myelin defects. Alternatively, in the so-called multiple-hit hypothesis, infection/inflammation can act as predisposing factors, making the brain more susceptible to a second stress (sensitization process), such as hypoxic–ischaemic or excitotoxic insults. Epidemiological data also suggest that perinatal exposure to inflammatory factors could predispose to long-term diseases including psychiatric disorders.