Role of microglia in inflammation-mediated neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms and strategies for therapeutic intervention.
Evidence from postmortem analysis implicates the involvement of microglia in the neurodegenerative process of several degenerative neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. It remains to be determined, however, whether microglial activation plays a role in the initiation stage of disease progression or occurs merely as a response to neuronal death. Activated microglia secrete a variety of proinflammatory and neurotoxic factors that are believed to induce and/or exacerbate neurodegeneration. In this article, we summarize recent advances on the study of the role of microglia based on findings from animal and cell culture models in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, with particular emphasis on Parkinson's disease. In addition, we also discuss novel approaches to potential therapeutic strategies.
Liu
Bin
B
Neuropharmacology Section, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Chemistry, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. liu3@niehs.nih.gov
Hong
Jau-Shyong
JS
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000473:pathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009270:Naloxone; D004298:Dopamine