Molecular mechanisms of brain abscess development

Brain abscess is still associated with a high mortality despite modern antibiotics and advanced neurosurgical techniques. To study the pathogenesis of human brain abscess, a model of experimental murine Staphylococcus aureus-induced brain abscess was established. In this model neutrophils, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells, macrophages and microglia as well as astrocytes were identified as major constituents of the inflammatory infiltrates. Furthermore, the expression pattern and kinetics of potent pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was analyzed. In functional studies, using tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-deficient mice, TN…