Neuroinflammation and immune mechanisms in brain disorders

Neuroimmunology has rapidly evolved as a critical field for understanding how inflammatory and immune processes shape the pathophysiology of brain disorders. Historically, the central nervous system (CNS) was thought to be immune privileged; however, recent discoveries reveal it as an active immunological interface, engaging continuously with peripheral immune networks and resident glial populations. Dysregulated immune activity—manifested through microglial activation, cytokine release, or blood–brain barrier disruption—has been identified as a pivotal mechanism contributing to neuronal dysfunction in a wide array of neurological diseases. Recent findings demonstrate the role of neuroinflammation not only in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases but also in headache disorders, epilepsy, cerebrovascular injury, and neuroimmunological syndromes. Although advances in single-cell sequencing, proteomics, and neuroimaging have illuminated the immune heterogeneity of CNS disorders, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding disease-specific immune signatures and therapeutic modulation of these processes.

This Research Topic aims to investigate the multifaceted roles of neuroinflammation and immune regulation across brain disorders. It seeks to elucidate the molecular, cellular, and systemic underpinnings of aberrant immune responses and their contribution to neuronal pathology. Specific goals include identifying shared pathogenic mechanisms across diseases, exploring the bidirectional communication between the nervous and immune systems, and evaluating immunomodulatory strategies with therapeutic potential. By emphasizing translational integration—from molecular pathways to clinical outcomes—this Research Topic endeavors to connect fundamental discoveries with actionable interventions that may alter disease trajectories.

To gather further insights into the complex interplay between immune activation and brain function, we welcome contributions that span basic, translational, and clinical research domains. Articles may focus on, but are not limited to, the following themes:
• Mechanistic insights into microglial and astrocytic activation in CNS disorders
• Neurovascular and neuroimmune interactions in disease onset and progression
• Cytokine networks, signaling cascades, and immune cell trafficking in the brain
• Molecular and imaging biomarkers of neuroinflammation and disease prognosis
• Impact of systemic inflammation and peripheral immune modulation on CNS pathology
• Innovative immunotherapeutic and anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches for neurological diseases