title: Alerted microglia and the sympathetic nervous system: A novel form of microglia in the development of hypertension.
abstract: Microglia, commonly known as the tissue resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS), are ubiquitously expressed in the CNS. Microglia, in their resting, or surveilling, stage, play a critical role in the maintenance of normal neuronal physiology and homeostasis. On activation, microglia can acquire either a neurotoxic (M1) or a neuroprotective (M2) phenotype. Prior to development of the M1 or M2 phenotype, little was known about changes in microglial activity, when subjected to stimuli. It is postulated, that an inability of microglia to maintain neuronal physiology within a normal working range can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) such as hypertension, but clear evidence supporting this hypothesis is missing. Even though our understanding of microglial function in a state of CNS injury/inflammation is extensive, the literature concerning role of microglia in the healthy CNS, is limited. Involvement of microglia in the pathophysiology of CVDs, in a neuroprotective/neurotoxic manner, is a key area that requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia; The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales 2042, Australia.
authors.forename: Komal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia; The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales 2042, Australia.
authors.forename: Amol M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bhandare
authors.affiliation: The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales 2042, Australia; Department of Physiology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa M J
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Farnham
authors.affiliation: The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales 2042, Australia; Department of Physiology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. Electronic address: paul.pilowsky@hri.org.au.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pilowsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Blood pressure; CVLM; Microglia; RVLM; Sympathetic nervous system