Infections and Inflammation in the Brain and Spinal Cord: A Dangerous Liaison

Morpho‐functional variation and response pattern of microglia through rodent ontogeny showing infant microglia as stable and adaptive than matured

“…With the approach to extract delicate microglia in healthy conditions from complex brain tissue in different developing/maturing phases of normal healthy rodent individuals and assessing cellular behavior and responses through ontogeny, we found specific key performance indicators for microglia. Most studies on microglia are involved with different patho‐physiological conditions including inflammation, aging, trauma, or behavioral/psychiatric disorders (Colonna & Butovsky, 2017; Dutta et al., 2016; Walker & Yirmiya, 2016). From discovery, a number of studies were also undertaken to decipher its origin and integration in brain with immune functional significance (Nayak et al., 2014; Rezaie & Male, 2002; Saijo & Glass, 2011).…”

Association Between Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Cell Percentage in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Outcome of Tuberculous Meningitis Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Indonesia

“…16 Inflammatory processes that occur in the brain are different when compared to those in other body organs. 12,13 Anatomically, the brain and its meninges lining are covered by a rigid compartment of the skull that in conditions where the extracellular fluid volume increases, in which edema occurs due to inflammation, an increase intracranial pressure will happen, which then reduces blood flow and potentially injure the brain. Besides, the function of the central nervous system depends on minimally regenerative nerve cells.…”

“…Both of these explain how the central nervous system has a limited capacity for inflammatory and immune reactions. 13,17 The accepted pathogenesis theory of TB meningitis explains that TB meningitis develops from the formation of caseous foci in the brain parenchyma or meninges around bacteria deposited in these tissues during the initial bacteremia phase. The rupture of foci allows penetration of bacilli into the subarachnoid cavity that triggers inflammatory meningitis.…”

“…The inflammation occurring in the brain has a different process when compared to the inflammatory process in other parts of the body. 12,13 When inflammation occurs in the brain in response to pathogens, various inflammatory effects can be triggered to protect the brain, which can eventually lead to cerebral edema. Cerebral edema can be harmful because the brain is contained in a rigid compartment of the skull thus edema can lead to increased intracranial pressure, which later can damage the brain or even lead to death.…”

“…Cerebral edema can be harmful because the brain is contained in a rigid compartment of the skull thus edema can lead to increased intracranial pressure, which later can damage the brain or even lead to death. 13 In other words, leukocytes, as an indicator of inflammation, are thought to affect the outcome of TB meningitis patients. 12 Research on the association between inflammation in TB meningitis and patient outcomes as a prognostic factor has been carried out with a result that high neutrophil count in CSF lead to higher mortality.…”