Abstract
Inflammatory activation of microglia is a hallmark of several disorders of the central nervous system. In addition to protecting the brain against inflammatory insults, microglia are neuroprotective and play a significant role in maintaining neuronal connectivity, but the prolongation of an inflammatory status may limit the beneficial functions of these immune cells. The finding that estrogen receptors are present in monocyte-derived cells and that estrogens prevent and control the inflammatory response raise the question of the role that this sex steroid plays in the manifestation and progression of pathologies that have a clear sex difference in prevalence, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The present review aims to provide a critical review of the current literature on the actions of estrogen in microglia and on the involvement of estrogen receptors in the manifestation of selected neurological disorders. This current understanding highlights a research area that should be expanded to identify appropriate replacement therapies to slow the progression of such diseases.
Highlights
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM is not readily accessible to peripheral immune cells, but evolution has favored the selection of microglia as the resident immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS) for the first line of protection against noxious stimuli, such as stress and pathogenic insults
In keeping with these findings are the results of the studies by Sierra, who first published a systematic analysis on the presence of selected steroid receptors in microglia isolated from the adult brain by cell sorting
After treatment with LPS, ER␣ is downregulated, providing evidence that the functional status of microglia may influence the expression of these genes, which in adult animals does not appear to be influenced by the hormonal status or sex [27, 187]
Summary
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM is not readily accessible to peripheral immune cells, but evolution has favored the selection of microglia as the resident immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS) for the first line of protection against noxious stimuli, such as stress and pathogenic insults. In the case of major injury, microglia attract peripheral immune cells to form an integrative network (with astroglia, neutrophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages) that provides the brain with a strong defensive system. This functional complex is finely regulated by a well-timed synthesis of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules for the transient inception of the inflammatory response in the presence of insults and to return to a surveying stage as the immune emergency is resolved. We will highlight the areas that need to be explored to verify the potential for estrogen receptor ligands in the attenuation of neuroinflammation in specific neuronal disorders
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callDisclaimer: 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.
