====== Neuroinflammation-Related Genes ======


=== 🧠 Microglial Activation and Immune Regulation ===
^ Gene     ^ Function                                                                 ^
| TREM2    | Regulates microglial response to damage; mutations associated with Alzheimer's disease. |
| CD33     | Inhibits microglial phagocytosis; involved in neurodegenerative risk.  |
| CX3CR1   | Microglia-neuron communication; modulates neurotoxicity and synaptic pruning. |
| TLR4     | Recognizes damage signals (DAMPs); activates NF-κB inflammatory pathway. |
| P2RY12   | Homeostatic microglial marker; mediates chemotaxis.                     |

=== 🧬 Cytokines and Chemokines ===
^ Gene     ^ Function                                                                 ^
| IL1B     | Encodes interleukin-1β; promotes neuroinflammation and fever.           |
| TNF      | Tumor necrosis factor-α; central in acute neuroinflammatory response.   |
| IL6      | Mediates both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in the CNS.            |
| CCL2     | Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; attracts macrophages to CNS lesions.|
| CXCL10   | Chemoattracts activated T-cells; elevated in autoimmune encephalitis.   |

=== 🧪 Oxidative Stress and Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption ===
^ Gene     ^ Function                                                                 ^
| NOX2     | Generates ROS; contributes to oxidative neuronal damage.                 |
| MMP9     | Degrades extracellular matrix; implicated in blood-brain barrier leakage.|
| AQP4     | Water channel protein; involved in brain edema and astrocyte function.   |

=== 🧠 Neurodegeneration and Clearance ===
^ Gene     ^ Function                                                                 ^
| APP      | Amyloid precursor protein; source of Aβ peptides in Alzheimer’s.         |
| PSEN1/2  | γ-secretase complex components; mutations lead to abnormal amyloid processing. |
| ABCA7    | Lipid transporter; modulates microglial phagocytosis and cholesterol homeostasis. |

=== 🔬 Common in Mendelian Randomization Studies ===
^ Gene     ^ Function                                                                 ^
| IL6R     | IL-6 receptor; instrumental variable in MR studies of inflammation.      |
| CRP      | C-reactive protein gene; systemic inflammation marker.                   |
| TREM2    | See above; frequently used in genetic studies of microglial response.    |
| MMP9     | See above; associated with hemorrhagic transformation.                   |