TY - JOUR
T1 - Microglia and inflammation
T2 - conspiracy, controversy or control?
AU - Fernandes, Adelaide
AU - Miller-Fleming, Leonor
AU - Pais, Teresa F.
PY - 2014/10
Y1 - 2014/10
N2 - Microglial cells contribute to normal function of the central nervous system (CNS). Besides playing a role in the innate immunity, they are also involved in neuronal plasticity and homeostasis of the CNS. While microglial cells get activated and undergo phenotypic changes in different disease contexts, they are far from being the "villains" in the CNS. Mounting evidence indicates that microglial dysfunction can exacerbate the pathogenesis of several diseases in the CNS. Several molecular mechanisms tightly regulate the production of inflammatory and toxic factors released by microglia. These mechanisms involve the interaction with other glial cells and neurons and the fine regulation of signaling and transcription activation pathways. The purpose of this review is to discuss microglia activation and to highlight the molecular pathways that can counteract the detrimental role of microglia in several neurologic diseases. Recent work presented in this review support that the understanding of microglial responses can pave the way to design new therapies for inflammatory diseases of the CNS.
AB - Microglial cells contribute to normal function of the central nervous system (CNS). Besides playing a role in the innate immunity, they are also involved in neuronal plasticity and homeostasis of the CNS. While microglial cells get activated and undergo phenotypic changes in different disease contexts, they are far from being the "villains" in the CNS. Mounting evidence indicates that microglial dysfunction can exacerbate the pathogenesis of several diseases in the CNS. Several molecular mechanisms tightly regulate the production of inflammatory and toxic factors released by microglia. These mechanisms involve the interaction with other glial cells and neurons and the fine regulation of signaling and transcription activation pathways. The purpose of this review is to discuss microglia activation and to highlight the molecular pathways that can counteract the detrimental role of microglia in several neurologic diseases. Recent work presented in this review support that the understanding of microglial responses can pave the way to design new therapies for inflammatory diseases of the CNS.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84909987977&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00018-014-1670-8
DO - 10.1007/s00018-014-1670-8
M3 - Review article
C2 - 25008043
AN - SCOPUS:84909987977
SN - 1420-682X
VL - 71
SP - 3969
EP - 3985
JO - Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
JF - Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
IS - 20
ER -