# The Role of Immune Infiltration and Oxidative Stress in the Progression of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation

**Authors:** Xuesai Zhu, Yizhi Yao, Tengbo Yu, Xiao Xiao

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/brb3.71237 · 2026-01-31

## TL;DR

This paper explores how immune infiltration and oxidative stress contribute to the development and progression of cerebral cavernous malformations, suggesting new therapeutic approaches.

## Contribution

The study reveals how genetic mutations interact with immune and oxidative stress factors to drive CCM progression.

## Key findings

- Genetic mutations (KRIT1, CCM2, PDCD10) initiate CCM lesions, but progression depends on immune infiltration and oxidative stress.
- Immune cell infiltration and oxidative stress responses significantly influence lesion maturation and hemorrhagic conversion.
- Blood-brain barrier disruption and immune thrombosis worsen CCM pathology.

## Abstract

To review how the immune microenvironment and oxidative stress modulate the initiation, maturation, and hemorrhagic conversion of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) and to appraise the therapeutic potential of immune‐directed interventions.

This project conducts systematic research on the pathogenesis of cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM), focusing on the complex interactions between genetic mutations (KRIT1, CCM2, PDCD10) and the immune microenvironment, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and vascular dysfunction. The study confirms that CCM development relies not only on genetic mutations but also on the synergistic effects of a “second hit” mechanism and microenvironmental stressors. Immune cell infiltration (e.g., B cells, T cells, neutrophils) and oxidative stress responses play pivotal roles in lesion progression; Blood‐brain barrier disruption and immune thrombosis further exacerbate the pathological process. These findings provide theoretical foundations for understanding CCM's multifactorial pathogenic network and establish scientific bases for personalized therapeutic strategies targeting the immune microenvironment and oxidative stress.

Genetic mutations trigger the formation of initial CCM lesions, while environmental and immune factors promote disease progression, increasing the risk of abnormal cerebral vascular formation or rupture.

Mechanism of rupture hemorrhage in cerebral cavernous malformations. Environmental and immune factors promote the progression of lesions and induce the risk of abnormal formation or rupture of cerebrovascular vessels.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** KRIT1 (KRIT1 ankyrin repeat containing) [NCBI Gene 889], CCM2 (CCM2 scaffold protein) [NCBI Gene 83605], PDCD10 (programmed cell death 10) [NCBI Gene 11235]
- **Diseases:** cerebral cavernous malformation (MONDO:0000820)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CCM2 (CCM2 scaffold protein) [NCBI Gene 83605] {aka C7orf22, OSM, PP10187}, PDCD10 (programmed cell death 10) [NCBI Gene 11235] {aka CCM3, TFAR15}, KRIT1 (KRIT1 ankyrin repeat containing) [NCBI Gene 889] {aka CAM, CCM1}
- **Diseases:** inflammatory (MESH:D007249), abnormal cerebral vascular formation (MESH:D058426), CCM (MESH:D020786), hemorrhagic (MESH:D006470), vascular dysfunction (MESH:D002561), thrombosis (MESH:D013927)

## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12860402/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12860402