Microglial clearance function in health and disease

Abstract Microglial cells are of hematopoietic origin, populate the CNS during early development and form the brain's innate immune cell type. Besides their well-known role in immune defense, microglia have an active and homeostatic function in the normal CNS based on high motility of their ram...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience 2009-02, Vol.158 (3), p.1030-1038
Main Authors: Napoli, I, Neumann, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Motifs - immunology
Animals
Brain Diseases - immunology
Brain Diseases - metabolism
Brain Diseases - physiopathology
Cell Movement - immunology
CNS diseases
Encephalitis - immunology
Encephalitis - metabolism
Encephalitis - physiopathology
Gliosis - immunology
Gliosis - metabolism
Gliosis - physiopathology
Humans
ITAM
microglia
Microglia - immunology
Microglia - metabolism
microglial receptors
Nerve Degeneration - immunology
Nerve Degeneration - metabolism
Nerve Degeneration - physiopathology
Neurology
phagocytosis
Phagocytosis - immunology
Receptors, Cell Surface - immunology
Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism
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Summary:Abstract Microglial cells are of hematopoietic origin, populate the CNS during early development and form the brain's innate immune cell type. Besides their well-known role in immune defense, microglia have an active and homeostatic function in the normal CNS based on high motility of their ramified processes and endocytic clearance of apoptotic vesicular material. During development microglia contribute to the reorganization of neuronal connections, however microglia have also pivotal roles during acute and chronic neurodegeneration. Microglia become attracted to site of injury by nucleotides released from damaged neurons. Scavenger receptors expressed on microglia bind to debris and microglial phagocytic receptors signal via immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) –containing adaptor proteins to promote phagocytosis of extracellular material. Insufficient clearance by microglia appears to be prevalent in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
ISSN:0306-4522
1873-7544
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.06.046