Systemic infections and inflammation affect chronic neurodegeneration.
It is well known that systemic infections cause flare-ups of disease in individuals with asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, and that relapses in multiple sclerosis can often be associated with upper respiratory-tract infections. Here we review evidence to support our hypothesis that in chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, with an ongoing innate immune response in the brain, systemic infections and inflammation can cause acute exacerbations of symptoms and drive the progression of neurodegeneration.
Perry
V Hugh
VH
Southampton Neuroscience Group, School of Biological Sciences and School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK. vhp@soton.ac.uk
Cunningham
Colm
C
Holmes
Clive
C
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000276:immunology*