Neuroinflammation and Anxiety-Related Pathology: Apoptosis, Pyroptosis, and the Preclinical Potential of Paeoniflorin

Abstract

Anxiety disorders have a multifactorial pathophysiology involving neurotransmitter signaling, stress-responsive neuroendocrine systems, and distributed neural circuits. Neuroinflammation has emerged as an important component of this network, although its contribution varies across anxiety phenotypes and experimental contexts. Apoptosis and pyroptosis may contribute to cellular injury in selected preclinical models, but their causal roles in human anxiety disorders remain incompletely established. This review examines inflammatory signaling and cell-death pathways relevant to anxiety-related pathology and critically evaluates the evidence for paeoniflorin (PF), a monoterpene glycoside derived from Paeonia species. Particular attention is given to the tryptophan–kynurenine pathway, regional differences across amygdala, hippocampal, and prefrontal networks, and interactions among the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, glucocorticoid signaling, and peripheral-to-central immune communication. PF-related changes in inflammatory, apoptotic, and pyroptotic markers are considered alongside neurochemical, neuroendocrine, and behavioral outcomes, with direct PF findings distinguished from evidence involving other interventions or disease models. Available studies support further investigation of PF as a preclinical candidate, rather than establishing clinically meaningful anxiolytic efficacy. Limitations in model validity, causal inference, dosing, bioavailability, and biomarker validation are discussed to guide mechanistic research and future clinical translation.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026 · DOI ↗