Immune responses in perinatal brain injury

•Although the perinatal period has been described as immune deficient, there is evidence that inflammatory immune responses in the neonate play a role in perinatal brain injury.•In this article we will review the immune cell composition under normal physiological conditions in the perinatal period, both in the human and rodent.•We will summarize evidence of the inflammatory responses to stimuli and discuss how neonatal immune activation, both in the CNS and in the periphery, may contribute to perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

The perinatal period has often been described as immune deficient. However, it has become clear that immune responses in the neonate following exposure to microbes or as a result of tissue injury may be substantial and play a role in perinatal brain injury. In this article we will review the immune cell composition under normal physiological conditions in the perinatal period, both in the human and rodent. We will summarize evidence of the inflammatory responses to stimuli and discuss how neonatal immune activation, both in the central nervous system and in the periphery, may contribute to perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.