The role of microglia in sepsis-associated encephalopathy: a narrative review.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objective

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a severe multifactorial brain dysfunction triggered by severe infections, characterized by neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, and persistent neurocognitive deficits. Accumulating evidence indicates that phenotypic polarization of microglia-resident immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS)-plays a central role in SAE pathogenesis. In SAE, microglia exhibit an imbalance in polarization, with sustained pro-inflammatory states and impaired reparative functions, accompanied by activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, forming a deleterious cycle of neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. This review focuses on three underexplored domains in SAE: neuronal/glial dysfunction, circadian disruption, an

SUBMITTER: Zhang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12552163 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature