Cytokines and Perinatal Brain Damage

Perinatal brain damage has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental impairments and psychiatric illnesses. This article reviews evidence that infection outside of the brain can damage the brain, and discusses specific cytokines and pathomechanisms that probably mediate the putative effect of remote infection on the developing brain. Events associated with increased circulating inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and immune cells are described. Finally, studies of genetic variation in susceptibility to cytokine-related brain damage are reviewed.