AUTHOR=Leviton Alan , Gressens Pierre , Wolkenhauer Olaf , Dammann Olaf 

TITLE=Systems approach to the study of brain damage in the very preterm newborn

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2015

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/systems-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2015.00058

DOI=10.3389/fnsys.2015.00058

ISSN=1662-5137

ABSTRACT=Background: 
A systems approach to the study of brain damage in very preterm newborns has been lacking
Methods: 
In this perspective piece, we offer encephalopathy of prematurity as an example of the complexity and interrelatedness of brain-damaging molecular processes that can be initiated inflammatory phenomena. 
Results: 
Using three transcription factors, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), Notch-1, and nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (NRF2), we show the inter-connectedness of signaling pathways activated by some antecedents of encephalopathy of prematurity. 
Conclusions: 
We hope that as biomarkers of exposures and processes leading to brain damage in the most immature newborns become more readily available, those who apply a systems approach to the study of neuroscience can be persuaded to study the pathogenesis of brain disorders in the very preterm newborn.