Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Neuro-Inflammation

Inflammation is an active defense reaction against diverse insults that aims at neutralizing noxious agents. Although inflammation serves a protective function in controlling infection and promoting tissue repair, it can also cause tissue damage. Inflammatory mediators include complement, adhesion molecules, products of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, eicosanoids, and cytokines. Cytokines are polypeptides that are generally associated with inflammation, immune activation, and cell differentiation or death. They include interleukins (ILs), interferons (IFNs), tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), chemokines, and growth factors. Although most have little or no function in healthy tissues, they are rapidly induced locally in response to tissue injury, infection, or inflammation.