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
Summary
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.
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