Perturbations in neuroimmune pathways are now recognized as a central component of AUD neurobiology. Alcohol activates neuroimmune signaling in brain, creating an inflammatory environment characterized by glial pathology, induction of chemokine and cytokine expression, and neuronal dysfunction. Anti-inflammatory compounds target alcohol behaviors, indicating a link between immune actions and behavioral changes leading to addiction. While neuroimmune-related research has uncovered a wealth of molecular targets, key questions remain concerning the primary neuroimmune molecules and downstream targets, cell-type specific signaling in brain, identifying suitable biomarkers for human studies, and appropriate methods for manipulating these CNS pathways in patients to treat AUD and other psychiatric disorders.
