Crosstalk between Circadian Rhythm and Neuroinflammation

BACKGROUND: The circadian rhythm is an intrinsic, approximately 24-h cycle of physiological, behavioral, and psychological changes formed through organisms' long-term evolutionary adaptation to the 24-h light-dark cycle on Earth. It regulates the body's homeostatic processes according to a daily schedule, ensuring the proper execution of physiological processes and the stability of the internal environment. In recent years, numerous studies have indicated crosstalk between the circadian rhythm and neuroinflammation. Disruption of the circadian rhythm can influence the onset and progression of various acute and chronic central nervous system diseases. SUMMARY: This review outlines the basic components and mechanisms of the circadian timing system and divides the development of neuroinflammation into several parts: initiation of neuroinflammation, glial cell activation, disruption of the neurovascular unit, oxidative stress response, and cellular energy metabolism. By revealing the role of circadian mechanisms in each part, the relationship between the biological clock and neuroinflammation is analyzed from a molecular biology perspective, aiming to provide a new theoretical basis for the clinical intervention of neuroinflammation and the treatment of related diseases. KEY MESSAGES: Disrupted circadian rhythms participate in various stages of neuroinflammation through "crosstalk," making them a factor that cannot be ignored in the treatment of neurological disorders.