title: Pharmacological Tools to Activate Microglia and their Possible use to Study Neural Network Patho-physiology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microglia are the resident immunocompetent cells of the CNS and also constitute a unique cell type that contributes to neural network homeostasis and function. Understanding microglia cell-signaling not only will reveal their diverse functions but also will help to identify pharmacological and non-pharmacological tools to modulate the activity of these cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a search of bibliographic databases for peer-reviewed research literature to identify microglial activators and their cell-specificity. We also looked for their effects on neural network function and dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified several pharmacological targets to modulate microglial function, which are more or less specific (with the proper control experiments). We also identified pharmacological targets that would require the development of new potent and specific modulators. We identified a wealth of evidence about the participation of microglia in neural network function and their alterations in pathological conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The identification of specific microglia-activating signals provides experimental tools to modulate the activity of this heterogeneous cell type in order to evaluate its impact on other components of the nervous system, and it also helps to identify therapeutic approaches to ease some pathological conditions related to microglial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Queretaro, 76230. Mexico.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pena-Ortega
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Astrocytes; complement receptors; fractalkine; lipopolysaccharide; macrophages; microglia; neurons; phosphatidylserine; scavenger receptors