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Microglial Implication in Parkinson's Disease: Loss of Beneficial Physiological Roles or Gain of Inflammatory

Cynthia Lecours1,2, Maude Bordeleau1,3, Léo Cantin1,4

  • 1Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
|September 15, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Microglia undergo changes with aging and stress, contributing to Parkinson's disease (PD) development. This review details how these brain cells shift functions and forms in PD and its risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Microglia are key immune cells in the central nervous system, vital for brain health.
  • Aging and chronic stress are significant risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD).
  • Microglial dysfunction is increasingly implicated in PD pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on microglial morphological and functional alterations in PD.
  • To examine how aging and chronic stress impact microglia in the context of PD.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
  • Analysis of studies investigating microglial changes in PD models and human subjects.
  • Examination of research on aging and stress effects on microglia.

Main Results:

  • Aging and chronic stress induce significant morphological and functional changes in microglia.
  • These microglial alterations are linked to neuroinflammation and PD development.
  • Microglia may lose protective functions and acquire detrimental roles in PD.

Conclusions:

  • Microglial changes are central to PD pathophysiology, particularly concerning aging and chronic stress.
  • Understanding these microglial shifts is crucial for developing novel PD therapies.
  • Targeting microglial responses to aging and stress may offer therapeutic avenues for PD.
Keywords:
Parkinson’s diseaseagingchronic stressinflammationmicrogliaphagocytosis

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