Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Primary Cultures of Rat Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Use in the Study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Primary Cultures of Rat Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Use in the Study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: June 23, 2022

The microglial-motoneuron dialogue in ALS.

S H Appel¹, W Zhao, D R Beers

¹Methodist Neurological Institute, Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA. sappel@tmhs.org

Acta Myologica : Myopathies and Cardiomyopathies : Official Journal of the Mediterranean Society of Myology

|August 17, 2011

Summary

Neuroinflammation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves a harmful dialogue between motor neurons and microglia. This interaction shifts from protective to toxic, driving motor neuron injury and cell death.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Demyelinative and degenerative diseases of the nervous system.

Postgraduate medicine·2016

Same author

The Medical Bookshelf.

Postgraduate medicine·2016

Same author

Phase II screening trial of lithium carbonate in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: examining a more efficient trial design.

Neurology·2011

Same author

Does apolipoprotein E genotype modify the clinical expression of ALS?

European journal of neurology·2010

Same author

ALS disease onset may occur later in patients with pre-morbid diabetes mellitus.

European journal of neurology·2010

Same author

Frontal-lobe mediated behavioral dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

European journal of neurology·2009

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Immunology
Cell Biology

Background:

Neuroinflammation, marked by activated microglia, is central to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.
In ALS, motor neuron injury is non-cell-autonomous, relying on motor neuron-microglia interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the complex dialogue between motor neurons and microglia in ALS pathogenesis.
To understand the transition of microglia from a neuroprotective to a neurotoxic state.

Main Methods:

Analysis of transgenic models expressing mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (mSOD1).
Investigation of cellular stress pathways including protein misfolding, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Examination of signaling molecules exchanged between motor neurons and microglia.

More Related Videos

Intravital Imaging of Axonal Interactions with Microglia and Macrophages in a Mouse Dorsal Column Crush Injury

Intravital Imaging of Axonal Interactions with Microglia and Macrophages in a Mouse Dorsal Column Crush Injury

Published on: November 23, 2014

Generating and Co-culturing Murine Primary Microglia and Cortical Neurons

Generating and Co-culturing Murine Primary Microglia and Cortical Neurons

Published on: July 26, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Primary Cultures of Rat Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Use in the Study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Primary Cultures of Rat Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Use in the Study of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Published on: June 23, 2022

Intravital Imaging of Axonal Interactions with Microglia and Macrophages in a Mouse Dorsal Column Crush Injury

Intravital Imaging of Axonal Interactions with Microglia and Macrophages in a Mouse Dorsal Column Crush Injury

Published on: November 23, 2014

Generating and Co-culturing Murine Primary Microglia and Cortical Neurons

Generating and Co-culturing Murine Primary Microglia and Cortical Neurons

Published on: July 26, 2024

Main Results:

Motor neuron stress, induced by misfolded proteins (e.g., mSOD1), impairs neuronal function and triggers microglial activation.
Activated microglia switch from an anti-inflammatory to a pro-inflammatory phenotype.
This results in the release of neurotoxic factors, creating a detrimental cycle of motor neuron injury.

Conclusions:

The motor neuron-microglial dialogue is critical in ALS progression.
Restoring the balance between neuroprotection and cytotoxicity requires a deeper understanding of this interaction.
Targeting this dialogue may offer therapeutic strategies for ALS.