Immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of cerebral palsy: implication of proinflammatory cytokines and T lymphocytes.

Beyond the already known aetiopathogenic factors linked to periventricular leukomalacia, a major pathological substrate in cerebral palsy, immune-inflammatory mechanisms have recently been implicated. Thus proinflammatory cytokines have been shown to be involved very early in the course of this disorder. Additionally, markers of T-lymphocyte activation were upregulated. These findings provide new insight into mechanisms underlying neural cell death in this condition and might open new horizons for preventive and therapeutic strategies.