Abstract

Dual role of microglia in health and disease: pushing the balance toward repair.

Highlights

  • Microglial cells have been traditionally regarded as the rowdy foot soldiers of the Central Nervous System (CNS), always on the edge of causing massive destruction when provoked

  • Microglia are responsible and/or strongly contribute to the maintenance of CNS homeostasis, immune surveillance and synaptic plasticity. It was believed these complex processes depended on two polarizing stimuli received by microglia: the “bad” ones leading to a classical pro-inflammatory response (M1), and the “good” ones leading to a typical anti-inflammatory profile (M2)

  • The challenge will be the development of tools that allow us to select a subpopulation of interest and modulate its response to an optimal therapeutic effect

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Microglial cells have been traditionally regarded as the rowdy foot soldiers of the Central Nervous System (CNS), always on the edge of causing massive destruction when provoked. Under M1 and M2 polarizing conditions, microglia can differentiate into different population subsets and develop specific patterns of activity. Gertig and Hanisch (2014) extensively review the heterogeneity of microglia responses and discuss how it impacts cytokine production, clearance of tissue debris, antigen presentation or the ability to sense neurotransmitters. The challenge will be the development of tools that allow us to select a subpopulation of interest and modulate its response to an optimal therapeutic effect.

Results
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.