Abstract
Microglia, of myeloid origin, play fundamental roles in the control of immune responses and the maintenance of central nervous system homeostasis. These cells, just like peripheral macrophages, may be activated into M1 pro-inflammatory or M2 anti-inflammatory phenotypes by appropriate stimuli. Microglia do not respond in isolation, but form part of complex networks of cells influencing each other. This review addresses the complex interaction of microglia with each cell type in the brain: neurons, astrocytes, cerebrovascular endothelial cells, and oligodendrocytes. We also highlight the participation of microglia in the maintenance of homeostasis in the brain, and their roles in the development and progression of age-related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Abbreviations
- AA:
-
Arachidonic acid
- AD:
-
Alzheimer’s disease
- Arg1:
-
Arginase-1
- ATP:
-
Adenosine triphosphate
- BBB:
-
Blood–brain barrier
- BDNF:
-
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
- BSCB:
-
Blood–spinal cord barrier
- CA:
-
Cornu Ammonis
- CNS:
-
Central nervous system
- CORT:
-
Corticosterone
- COX:
-
Cyclooxygenase
- CSF1R:
-
Colony-stimulating factor receptor
- CVE:
-
Cerebrovascular endothelial cells
- DAMPs:
-
Damage-associated molecular patterns
- EAE:
-
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
- ECs:
-
Endothelial cells
- EMPs:
-
Erythromyeloid progenitors
- HCVE:
-
Human cerebrovascular endothelial cells
- IFN:
-
Interferon
- IGF1:
-
Insulin-like growth factor 1
- IL:
-
Interleukin
- iNOS:
-
Inducible nitric oxide synthase
- LPS:
-
Lipopolysaccharide
- MCAO:
-
Middle cerebral artery occlusion
- MHC:
-
Major histocompatibility complex
- MMP:
-
Matrix metalloproteases
- MS:
-
Multiple sclerosis
- NGF:
-
Nerve growth factor
- NO:
-
Nitric oxide
- NOX:
-
NADPH oxidase
- NVU:
-
Neurovascular unit
- OL:
-
Oligodendrocytes
- OPCs:
-
Oligodendrocytes progenitor cells
- p38 MAPK:
-
p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase
- PAMPs:
-
Pathogen-associated molecular patterns
- PNS:
-
Peripheral nervous system
- PPARγ:
-
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma
- proNGF:
-
Pro-nerve growth factor
- PRRs:
-
Pathogen recognition receptors
- ROS:
-
Reactive oxygen species
- RUNX1:
-
Runt-related transcription factor 1
- SCI:
-
Spinal cord injury
- TGFβ:
-
Transforming growth factor-β
- TLRs:
-
Toll-like receptors
- TNF-α:
-
Tumor necrosis factor α
- VECs:
-
Vascular endothelial cells
- VEGF:
-
Vascular endothelial growth factor
- ZO-1:
-
Zonula occludens-1
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21402241), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20160032), the Six Talent Peaks Project of Jiangsu Province (T.P.), and the Program for Jiangsu Province “Shuang Chuang” Team. JMS was supported by the Georgetown University Medical Center.
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All authors listed contributed immensely to this work. John Alimamy Kabba wrote the articles and drew the figures. Tao Pang, Juan M. Saavedra, Yun Xiang, and Luyong Zhang, as experts in neuropharmacology, provide technical supports and extensive review of material for important intellectual content. Yazhou Xu and Wenchen Ruan search and provide material for writing the article, edit the figures, and arrange the manuscript in accordance with the journal specifications. Christian Handson made contributions to the design of this work and Chenai Kitchen systematically reviewed the language and grammar and provided reference materials.
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Kabba, J.A., Xu, Y., Christian, H. et al. Microglia: Housekeeper of the Central Nervous System. Cell Mol Neurobiol 38, 53–71 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-017-0504-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-017-0504-2