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

The polyphenols and phytonutrients in oats support a balanced gut microbiome and help lower pro-inflammatory molecules. — Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 12 Nov. 2026

Meanwhile, in male mice, the researchers found a cluster of eosinophils that tended to develop more when they were fed a diet high in fat, and that these populations of immune cells were pro-inflammatory. — Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2026

Probiotics are live bacteria that may lower inflammation in the gut by modulating immune response, reducing pro-inflammatory bacteria, and improving gut bacteria balance. — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 12 Oct. 2026

Higher levels of pro-inflammatory proteins from any source have been linked to neurological and sensory processing differences in conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and autism. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

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