pro-inflammatory

adjective

pro-in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry (ˌ)prō-in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 

variants or proinflammatory

: promoting inflammation : capable of causing inflammation

pro-inflammatory cytokines

proinflammatory effects

The findings showed a pro-inflammatory diet with sugar, high saturated fat and processed food was associated with a higher risk of depression.

—Martin Bagot

Examples of pro-inflammatory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Research also increasingly suggests that a healthy gut microbiome supports a healthy brain; imbalances in the gut microbiome or certain pro-inflammatory bacteria have been linked to cognitive impairments and depression and anxiety. —Kathleen Felton, Time, 9 June 2026

What’s more, anthocyanins inhibit and suppress pro-inflammatory pathways from causing inflammation, notes Ehsani. —Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026

Research shows a strong link between HS severity and metabolic factors like obesity and insulin resistance, which contribute to a chronic pro-inflammatory state. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 May 2026

Omega-3s, on the other hand, help regulate your immune system and reduce the production of pro-inflammatory molecules. —Lauren Manaker, SELF, 26 Mar. 2026

Sustained activation of the sympathetic nervous system promotes the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to a state of constant, low-grade inflammation throughout the body. —Daniel Combs, Verywell Health, 9 Mar. 2026

Alcohol also increases the production of pro-inflammatory proteins like TNF-α. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Feb. 2026

Unfortunately, a couple of those genes provide the blueprint for additional transcription factors, which then switch on pro-inflammatory genes. —New Atlas, 21 Nov. 2025

The key to these advances has been the development of certain biologics that target key pathways in the immune system and selectively block the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines. —Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pro-inflammatory

• adjudicatory
• anticipatory
• articulatory
• classificatory
• conciliatory
• congratulatory
• discriminatory
• ejaculatory
• emancipatory
• hallucinatory
• interlaboratory
• interrogatory

Medical Definition

pro-inflammatory

adjective

pro-in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry (ˈ)prō-in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 

variants or proinflammatory

: promoting inflammation : capable of causing inflammation

pro-inflammatory cytokines

… viruses also trigger pro-inflammatory responses, which remain poorly defined.

—Daniel A. Muruve et al., Nature

When the lesions are traumatized, or rubbed firmly, the cutaneous mast cells may release proinflammatory mediators, causing edema, erythema, and even vesicle formation.

—Melissa M. Burnett et al., The New England Journal of Medicine