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Published on: June 23, 2023
Microglia and Parkinson's disease: footprints to pathology
Ekaterina Lazdon1, Nofar Stolero1, Dan Frenkel2,3
1Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Sherman building, Room 424, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Abstract:
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with motor deficiency and rigidity. The genetic risks of the disease is reported to be between 5 and 10% depending on the background of the population. While PD is not considered an immune-mediated disease, amounting evidence in recent years suggests a major role of inflammation in the progression of PD. Markers of inflammation can be found around the regions of risk and adjacent to the appearance of Lewy bodies within the basal ganglia and the substantia nigra (SN) that are associated with PD pathology. Microglia, an important type of brain cell, has been reported to play a major role in mediating neuroinflammation and in PD disease pathology. This review aims to point out the potential role of microglia in disease progression and suggest that the interaction of microglia with the dopaminergic neurons may also facilitate the specificity of the disease in brain regions affected by PD.
Insights
Inflammation, particularly from microglia brain cells, plays a key role in Parkinson's disease (PD) progression. Targeting microglia may offer new strategies for treating this neurodegenerative disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor deficits and rigidity.
- While not primarily immune-mediated, inflammation significantly influences PD progression.
- Inflammatory markers are observed in brain regions affected by PD pathology, including the substantia nigra.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of microglia in mediating neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease.
- To explore how microglia-neuron interactions contribute to PD pathogenesis.
- To highlight microglia as a potential therapeutic target for PD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating neuroinflammation and microglia in PD.
- Analysis of evidence linking inflammatory markers to PD pathology.
- Examination of microglia-neuron interactions in affected brain regions.
Main Results:
- Microglia are central mediators of neuroinflammation in PD.
- Inflammatory processes are closely associated with Lewy bodies and neuronal degeneration in PD.
- Microglia's interaction with dopaminergic neurons may determine disease specificity.
Conclusions:
- Microglia play a critical role in the progression of Parkinson's disease.
- Understanding microglia-driven neuroinflammation is crucial for developing effective PD treatments.
- Targeting microglia-dopaminergic neuron interactions could offer novel therapeutic avenues.
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