Disrupting the blood–brain barrier by focused ultrasound induces sterile inflammation

Significance Pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) with systemic microbubble (MB) infusion is a noninvasive technique that opens the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and is currently advocated for increasing drug or gene delivery in neurological diseases. The opening of the BBB by pFUS+MB resulted in immediate damage-associated molecular patterns that led to a sterile inflammation response within the parenchyma that lasted 24 h. Currently, pFUS+MB exposure is under consideration as an adjuvant in the treatment in malignancy or neurodegenerative disease. These results demonstrate that pFUS+MB induces a sterile inflammatory response compatible with ischemia or mild traumatic brain injury. Further investigation will be required before translation to clinical trials.

Disrupting the blood–brain barrier by focused ultrasound induces sterile inflammation | Litlas