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Updated: Jan 31, 2026
Culturing Microglia from the Neonatal and Adult Central Nervous System
Published on: August 9, 2013
Microglia in Central Nervous System Inflammation and Multiple Sclerosis Pathology
Sofie Voet1, Marco Prinz2, Geert van Loo1
1Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract:
Microglia are the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS). They have important physiological functions in maintaining tissue homeostasis but also contribute to CNS pathology. Microglia respond to changes in the microenvironment, and the resulting reactive phenotype can be very diverse, with both neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective properties, illustrating the plasticity of these cells. Recent progress in understanding the autoimmune neuroinflammatory disease multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis suggests major roles for microglia in the disease, which have drastically changed our view on the function of microglia in MS.
Insights
Microglia, the brain's immune cells, play dual roles in health and disease. Their diverse responses are crucial in understanding neuroinflammatory conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS).
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Cellular Biology
- Neuroinflammation
Background:
- Microglia are the primary immune cells within the central nervous system (CNS).
- They are essential for maintaining CNS homeostasis but also implicated in pathology.
- Microglia exhibit remarkable plasticity, adapting diverse reactive phenotypes with neuroprotective or neuroinflammatory functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the multifaceted roles of microglia in the central nervous system.
- To investigate the contribution of microglia to neuroinflammatory diseases, specifically multiple sclerosis (MS).
- To understand how microglial plasticity influences disease pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on microglia and multiple sclerosis.
- Analysis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a model for MS.
- Examination of microglial responses to CNS microenvironmental changes.
Main Results:
- Microglia's role in maintaining tissue homeostasis is well-established.
- Microglia display a spectrum of reactive phenotypes, impacting CNS health and disease.
- Emerging evidence highlights significant microglial involvement in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Microglia are key players in the complex pathology of multiple sclerosis.
- Understanding microglial plasticity is critical for developing novel therapeutic strategies for MS.
- Recent research has significantly reshaped the understanding of microglial function in MS.
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