Neuroinflammation: Molecular Mechanisms And Therapeutic Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Neuroinflammation is a key component in the etiopathogenesis of neurological diseases and brain aging. This process involves the brain immune system that modulates synaptic functions and protects neurons from infection or damage. Hence, the knowledge of neuroinflammation related-pathways and modulation by drugs or natural compounds is functional to the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at preserving, maintaining and restoring brain health. Objective: This review article summarizes the basics in neuroinflammation and related signaling pathways, the success of dietary intervention in clinical practice and the possible development of RNA-based strategies for the treatment of neurological diseases. Methods: Pubmed search (2012-2022); keywords: neuroinflammation and molecular mechanisms in combination with diet, miRNA and non-coding RNA. Results: Glial cells play a crucial role in neuroinflammation, but several pathways can be activated in response to different inflammatory stimuli, inducing cell death by apoptosis, pyroptosis or necroptosis. Dietary intervention has immunomodulatory effects and could limit the inflammatory process induced by microglia and astrocytes. Thus by ihibiting neuroinflammation and improving the symptoms of a variety of neurological diseases, diet exerts pleiotropic neuroprotective effects independently from the spectrum of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the specific disorder. Furthermore, data from animal models revealed that altered expression of specific non-coding RNAs, in particular microRNAs, contributes to neuroinflammatory diseases; consequently, RNA-based strategies may be promising to alleviate the consequences of neuroinflammation. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to identify the molecular pathways and the new pharmacological targets in neuroinflammation to lay the basis for more effective and selective therapies to be applied, in parallel to dietary intervention, in the treatment of neuroinflammation-based diseases.