Clinical aspects of inflammation in parkinson's disease

Inflammation in Parkinson's disease (PD) is widely recognized as part of the pathologic process. Whether it is causative or contributory, remains under investigation. Current evidence shows chronic inflammation is now seen as a plausible mechanism of neurodegeneration in PD. Various biological markers such as cytokines, antibodies to alpha-synuclein, and peripheral T-cell changes have been shown in literature. Furthermore, comorbidity studies, genome-wide association studies, and other epidemiological studies have corroborated a role for inflammation in the initiation or progression of PD. Development and validation of inflammatory biomarkers in PD are still in the preliminary stages. However, it is important to review the potential markers so we can explore further possibilities. This review focuses on current evidence presented in various clinical studies starting with cytokine and other biologic markers and epidemiological studies that broaden our understanding of the role of in vivo inflammatory mechanisms in PD.