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Related Concept Videos

Glial Cells01:04

Glial Cells

Overview
Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells01:31

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

Glia, or neuroglia, are vital support cells that assist neurons in their functions. The term "glia" originates from the Greek word for "glue," reflecting their role in holding the nervous system together. These cells can be categorized into six types: four in the central nervous system (CNS) and two in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
The CNS glial cell includes the astrocytes, the oligodendrocytes, the microglia, and the ependymal cells.
Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells that interact...

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Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates
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Microglial physiology: unique stimuli, specialized responses.

Richard M Ransohoff1, V Hugh Perry

  • 1Neuroinflammation Research Center, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. ransohr@ccf.org

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|March 24, 2009
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Microglia, the brain's immune cells, constantly survey their environment. Their diverse functions and activation states in neurological diseases offer potential therapeutic targets.

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Published on: April 13, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Microglia are the central nervous system's resident macrophages.
  • In a healthy brain, their phenotype is influenced by neural and glial cells and the blood-brain barrier.
  • Microglia are constantly active, surveying their microenvironment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the dynamic nature and diverse functions of microglia.
  • To emphasize the need for qualifying the term "activated microglia" based on disease-specific states.
  • To highlight the therapeutic potential of manipulating microglial functions in neurological diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on microglia biology and function.
  • Analysis of microglial responses to disturbances in nervous system homeostasis.
  • Examination of diverse effector functions in various disease contexts.

Main Results:

  • Microglia exhibit a distinct phenotype in the healthy brain, maintained by local factors and the blood-brain barrier.
  • Microglia rapidly alter their phenotype (morphology, antigen expression) in response to homeostatic disturbances, termed "activation".
  • Microglia possess diverse effector functions, similar to macrophages in other organs, which vary significantly across different disease states.

Conclusions:

  • The term "activated microglia" requires precise qualification to reflect distinct, disease-specific functional states.
  • Understanding the diverse effector functions of microglia is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
  • Modulating microglial effector functions holds significant potential for treating a wide range of neurological diseases.