Prostaglandins: Key players in immunomodulation of the nervous system

As a class of bioactive substances that play important roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, prostaglandins have attracted increasing research attention. Published studies have identified the molecular characteristics of prostaglandins in peripheral organs, the enzymes involved in prostaglandin biosynthesis, and prostaglandin receptors. Some studies have also explored the characteristics of prostaglandins and their functions in the central nervous system. In particular, for immunomodulation, prostaglandins in the brain show a unique immunosuppressive effect, which is of great importance for maintaining brain immune homeostasis and preventing excessive immune responses. In this review, we review the biosynthesis and degradation of prostaglandins, discuss the regulatory effects of prostaglandin systems on the immune cells of the nervous system, and explore the therapeutic potential of targeting prostaglandin systems for neurological diseases, thereby providing new perspectives for the treatment of these diseases. Overall, prostaglandins play important roles in the immunomodulation of the nervous system, and the complexity of the underlying processes depends on the variety and types of specific receptors and, more importantly, the cell types prostaglandins act on. Therefore, additional in-depth studies of the specific mechanisms involving prostaglandins in immunomodulation, including the interactions among different types of prostaglandins and their roles in neuropathological conditions, are essential. The prostaglandin signaling pathway may represent another important direction for the development of new drugs for neurological diseases, and the combination of prostaglandin system targets with other therapies (such as immunomodulatory drugs and gene therapy) may yield better results.