The Cellular Biology of Inflammation

Chronic inflammation, triggered by the body's immune response, can lead to neuroinflammation, which disrupts brain function. Microglia, the immune cells in the brain, release pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukins and TNF-alpha, which recruit other cells to the site of injury. In cases of chronic inflammation, this process can become dysregulated, causing issues in neural communication and making it difficult for essential brain chemicals to reach their receptors. Studies show that even the administration of a single cytokine can lead to behaviors resembling sickness, such as lack of motivation and energy. Understanding how to manage these inflammatory responses is crucial for improving mental health.

How the body mounts immune responses at a cellular level when it encounters even the smallest inflammatory signaling molecules.

Inflammatory cytokines are signaling molecules that your brain and body use to upregulate inflammation in response to things such as physical injury or foreign bodies. Even peripheral inflammation due to things such as leaky gut can have massive implications on neural functioning.