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Role of microglia in neuronal degeneration and regeneration

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Abstract

Microglial cells, the resident macrophage population of the central nervous system (CNS), actively scan tissue under both normal and pathologic contexts. Their resulting engagement can become either neuroprotective or neurotoxic, leading to amelioration or aggravation of disease progression. In this review, we focus on the molecular signaling molecules involved in microglial responses and discuss observations demonstrating the diverse effects of microglia in animal models of CNS diseases.

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Acknowledgments

The Neural Regeneration Group at the University Bonn is supported by the Hertie-Foundation, the Walter-und-Ilse-Rose-Foundation, the DFG (SFB704, KFO177), and the EU (LSHM-CT-2005-018637).

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Cologne, Gleueler Str. 24, 50931, Cologne, Germany

    Lisa Walter

  2. Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University Hospital Bonn, University Bonn and Hertie-Foundation, Sigmund-Freud Str. 25, 53127, Bonn, Germany

    Harald Neumann

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Correspondence to Harald Neumann.

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Walter, L., Neumann, H. Role of microglia in neuronal degeneration and regeneration. Semin Immunopathol 31, 513–525 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-009-0180-5

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