Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access

Abstract

The Role of Inflammatory Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Cerebral Palsy

Hua Di, Qi He, Yingye Liao, Bill Kalionis and Xiantao Tai

Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of major neurodevelopmental disorders that affect movement and posture. CP results from damage to the developing brain during pregnancy, or shortly after birth and a growing body of research suggests that inflammation may play a vital role in its development. Here, we review the contribution of inflammatory cytokines (such as NF-κ B, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α ) to the mechanism of CP. Individual cytokines play specific roles in pathogenesis of CP but they also interact with each other and form a complex network of inflammatory reaction-regulating systems. Investigating the mechanisms of action of inflammatory cytokines in the development of CP may contribute not only to our understanding of the pathogenesis of CP but may also lead to more rational and effective intervention strategies.