Microglia-Mediated Inflammation and Neurodegenerative Disease

Abstract

Microglia are the main effectors in the inflammatory process of the central nervous system. As the first line of defense, microglia play an important role in the inflammatory reaction. When there is pathogen invasion or cell debris, microglia will be activated rapidly and remove it, while releasing the inflammatory cytokines to mediate inflammatory reaction. Activated microglia were found surrounding lesions of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, muscular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. Microglia, the effectors of neuronal degeneration and necrosis, are involved in the removal of necrotic neurons. But over activated microglia may accelerate the process of some neurodegenerative diseases. Activated microglia can release cytotoxic factor and cytokines. Some of them may cause further damage to neuron, and some of them can regulate inflammatory cells to gather to the lesion. Microglia-mediated inflammation was considered to be the possible mechanism for the occurrence or deterioration of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, inhibiting the activity of microglia appropriately may be an effective way for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; CNS infection; Cerebral ischemia; Epilepsy; Microglia; Multiple sclerosis; Parkinson’s disease.