Over the past two decades, the long-standing dogma of the brain as an immunoprivileged organ has been gradually deconstructed by converging evidence for extensive cross-talk between the CNS and the immune system and for ongoing inflammatory activity within the CNS. CNS inflammation can be mediated by both resident immune cells and de novo migrating mononuclear cells. Moreover, increasing evidence points to neuroinflammation as a thus far underrated target of established pharmacological agents. In this symposium, we present recent findings on the involvement of neuroinflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders and on their role as a potential target for intervention.
Ildiko Dunay will discuss animal models for chronic CNS inflammation and its effects on synaptic pathology and will further outline recent advances in the translation of immune cell phenotyping from animal models to clinical research. Next, we will present recent findings on the role of inflammatory processes in cognitive aging and dementia (Björn Schott) and posttraumatic stress disorder (Ulrike Schmidt). Bridging the gap to therapeutic interventions, Golo Kronenberg will present recent findings on the inhibitory effects of lithium on inflammation-mediated tryptophan catabolism as an unexpected potential pharmacological mechanism.