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Microglia and Microglia-Like Cells: Similar but Different
Miguel A Cuadros1, M Rosario Sepulveda1, David Martin-Oliva1
1Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Abstract:
Microglia are the tissue-resident macrophages of the central nervous parenchyma. In mammals, microglia are thought to originate from yolk sac precursors and posteriorly maintained through the entire life of the organism. However, the contribution of microglial cells from other sources should also be considered. In addition to "true" or "bona-fide" microglia, which are of embryonic origin, the so-called "microglia-like cells" are hematopoietic cells of bone marrow origin that can engraft the mature brain mainly under pathological conditions. These cells implement great parts of the microglial immune phenotype, but they do not completely adopt the "true microglia" features. Because of their pronounced similarity, true microglia and microglia-like cells are usually considered together as one population. In this review, we discuss the origin and development of these two distinct cell types and their differences. We will also review the factors determining the appearance and presence of microglia-like cells, which can vary among species. This knowledge might contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies aiming at microglial cells for the treatment of diseases in which they are involved, for example neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Insights
This review distinguishes between true microglia and microglia-like cells, highlighting their different origins and characteristics. Understanding these differences is crucial for developing targeted therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microglia are central nervous system macrophages originating from yolk sac precursors.
- Hematopoietic cells, termed microglia-like cells, can infiltrate the brain, especially during pathology.
- These two cell types share similarities but possess distinct origins and features.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate between true microglia and microglia-like cells.
- To explore the developmental origins and factors influencing microglia-like cell presence.
- To inform therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on microglial cell origins.
- Comparative analysis of true microglia and microglia-like cells.
- Discussion of species-specific variations and influencing factors.
Main Results:
- True microglia are of embryonic yolk sac origin and persist throughout life.
- Microglia-like cells originate from bone marrow and engraft the brain under specific conditions.
- While sharing immune phenotypes, microglia-like cells do not fully replicate true microglia characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Distinguishing between these cell populations is essential for understanding brain immunity.
- Knowledge of their origins and differences can guide the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
- Targeting microglial cells offers potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
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