A review on the reciprocal interactions between neuroinflammatory processes and substance use and misuse, with a focus on alcohol misuse

Could immunotherapy be a hope for addiction treatment?

“… 14 , 15 , 16 For example, alcohol, opioids, and psychostimulants can alter microglia morphology, microglial activation markers, and cytokines levels in preclinical and clinical studies. 17 , 18 , 19 During the years, glial cells were described as supportive cells for neurons. However, a growing body of evidence now indicates that both microglia and astrocytes can regulate neuronal circuits, actively participating in processes such as neurogenesis, neurotransmitter release, modulation of synaptic morphology, and neuronal connectivity.…”