Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2002 Nov;40(2):133-139.
doi: 10.1002/glia.10154.

Microglia as neuroprotective, immunocompetent cells of the CNS

Wolfgang J Streit  1
Affiliations
Review

Microglia as neuroprotective, immunocompetent cells of the CNS

Wolfgang J Streit. Glia. 2002 Nov.

Abstract

The role of glial cells is to support and sustain proper neuronal function and microglia are no exception to this. This viewpoint article emphasizes the fundamental interdependence of microglia and neurons and takes a look at the possibility of what could happen if microglial cells became dysfunctional as a result of aging, genetics, or epigenetics. Could microglial senescence be a factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases? The cautious answer to that question is 'yes'. Future studies along these lines may provide novel insights into microglial involvement in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Akiyama H, McGeer PL. 1990. Brain microglia constitutively express beta-2 integrins. J Neuroimmunol 30: 81-93.
    1. Akiyama H, Barger S, Barnum S, Bradt B, Bauer J, Cole GM, Cooper NR, Eikelenboom P, Emmerling M, Fiebich BL, Finch CE, Frautschy S, Griffin WST, Hampel H, Hull M, Landreth G, Lue LF, Mrak R, Mackenzie M, O'Banion K, Pachter J, Pasinetti G, Plata-Salaman C, Rogers J, Rydel R, Shen Y, Streit W, Strohmeyer R, Tooyoma I, Van Muiswinkel FL, Veerhuis R, Walker D, Webster S, Wegrzyniak B, Wenk G, Wyss-Coray A. 2000. Inflammation and Alzheimer's Disease. Neurobiol Aging 21: 383-421.
    1. Albright AV, Shieh JT, Itoh T, Lee B, Pleasure D, O'Connor MJ, Doms RW, Gonzalez-Scarano F. 1999. Microglia express CCR5, CXCR4, and CCR3, but of these, CCR5 is the principal coreceptor for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 dementia isolates. J Virol 73: 205-213.
    1. Barron KD, Marciano FF, Amundson R, Mankes R. 1990. Perineuronal glial responses after axotomy of central and peripheral axons. A comparison. Brain Res 523: 219-229.
    1. Bell MD, Lopez-Gonzalez R, Lawson L, Hughes D, Fraser I, Gordon S, Perry VH. 1994. Upregulation of the macrophage scavenger receptor in response to different forms of injury in the CNS. J Neurocytol 23: 605-613.

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources