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

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

Some pro-inflammatory bacteria also rise with extreme age, so the science is not a clean story of more Bifidobacterium meaning a longer life. — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026

But the same body of work shows pro-inflammatory bacteria climbing with age in other centenarians. — Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026

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

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