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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Engineering of Human Blood-Induced Microglia-like Cells for Reverse-Translational Brain Research
Published on: September 6, 2024
Microglial advances in psychiatric disorders
Jemmyson R de Jesus1, Iare S Ribeiro1, Marcos V S Pereira1
1Research Laboratory in bionanomaterials, LPbio, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology of Bioanalytics-Lauro Kubota (INCTBio-LK), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
Psychiatric disorders constitute a major global challenge to public health, characterized by complex and multifactorial etiologies involving genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors. In recent years, growing evidence has highlighted the central role of microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, in regulating brain homeostasis and in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric conditions. Beyond their classic immune functions, microglia actively participate in synaptic pruning, neurogenesis, and the modulation of neural circuits. Dysregulation of microglial activity, particularly chronic pro-inflammatory activation, has been strongly associated with disorders such as major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and neurodegenerative diseases, contributing to impaired synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, and behavioral dysfunction. This chapter discusses recent advances in microglial biology, emphasizing its functional heterogeneity and dynamic phenotypic states. This chapter explores the main molecular pathways involved in microglia-mediated synaptic remodeling and their implications for the progression of neuropsychiatric disorders. Furthermore, emerging therapeutic strategies targeting microglia were discussed, including anti-inflammatory approaches, functional reprogramming, neuromodulation techniques, and microglial replacement or niche engineering. These advances support a paradigm shift from indiscriminate microglia inhibition to the precise modulation of specific functional states. Understanding and targeting microglia dynamics may provide innovative and more effective therapeutic pathways for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Insights
Microglia, the brain's immune cells, play a key role in psychiatric disorders. Targeting their specific functions offers new therapeutic strategies for conditions like depression and schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Psychiatric disorders pose a significant global health challenge, with complex origins.
- Microglia, the central nervous system's immune cells, are increasingly recognized for their role in brain health and disease.
- Dysfunctional microglia contribute to neuroinflammation and impaired synaptic plasticity, impacting conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in microglial biology and their implications for neuropsychiatric disorders.
- To explore molecular pathways underlying microglia-mediated synaptic remodeling.
- To discuss novel therapeutic strategies targeting microglial function.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on microglial biology and function.
- Analysis of molecular pathways involved in microglia-neuron interactions.
- Synthesis of emerging therapeutic approaches targeting microglia.
Main Results:
- Microglia exhibit functional heterogeneity and dynamic phenotypic states.
- Specific molecular pathways link microglial activity to synaptic remodeling and disease progression.
- Therapeutic strategies are evolving from broad inhibition to precise modulation of microglial states.
Conclusions:
- Microglial dynamics are central to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.
- Targeting specific microglial functions represents a promising avenue for novel treatments.
- A shift towards precise modulation of microglial states offers potential for more effective therapies.
