Review on the changes of cytokines after traumatic brain injury

Inflammatory response after traumatic brain injury plays an essential role in secondary brain injury. Cytokines, as critical inflammatory mediators in vivo, are involved in a variety of pathophysiological processes and play a significant role in the inflammatory cascade after brain injury. There are two kinds of cytokines involved in secondary brain injury and repair after brain trauma: pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Among them, nuclear factor kB(NF-kB), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1(sICAM-1), vascular endothelial adhesion molecule 1(VCAM-1), and interleukin 1β(IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-16 are the major pro-inflammatory cytokines; IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13are anti-inflammatory cytokines. This paper mainly summarizes the current research status of inflammatory cytokines, reaction mechanism and its relationship with TBI secondary brain injury.