Abstract
An inflammatory process in the central nervous system (CNS) is believed to play an important role in the pathway leading to neuronal cell death in a number of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, prion diseases, multiple sclerosis and HIV-dementia. The inflammatory response is mediated by the activated microglia, the resident immune cells of the CNS, which normally respond to neuronal damage and remove the damaged cells by phagocytosis. Activation of microglia is a hallmark of brain pathology. However, it remains controversial whether microglial cells have beneficial or detrimental functions in various neuropathological conditions. The chronic activation of microglia may in turn cause neuronal damage through the release of potentially cytotoxic molecules such as proinflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen intermediates, proteinases and complement proteins. Therefore, suppression of microglia-mediated inflammation has been considered as an important strategy in neurodegenerative disease therapy. Several anti-inflammatory drugs of various chemical ingredients have been shown to repress the microglial activation and to exert neuroprotective effects in the CNS following different types of injuries. However, the molecular mechanisms by which these effects occur remain unclear. In recent years, several research groups including ours have attempted to explain the potential mechanisms and signaling pathways for the repressive effect of various drugs, on activation of microglial cells in CNS injury. We provide here a comprehensive review of recent findings of mechanisms and signaling pathways by which microglial cells are activated in CNS inflammatory diseases. This review article further summarizes the role of microglial cells in neurodegenerative diseases and various forms of potential therapeutic options to inhibit the microglial activation which amplifies the inflammation-related neuronal injury in neurodegenerative diseases.
Keywords: Microglia, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Microglial Activation and its Implications in the Brain Diseases
Volume: 14 Issue: 11
Author(s): S. Thameem Dheen, Charanjit Kaur and Eng-Ang Ling
Affiliation:
Keywords: Microglia, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation
Abstract: An inflammatory process in the central nervous system (CNS) is believed to play an important role in the pathway leading to neuronal cell death in a number of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, prion diseases, multiple sclerosis and HIV-dementia. The inflammatory response is mediated by the activated microglia, the resident immune cells of the CNS, which normally respond to neuronal damage and remove the damaged cells by phagocytosis. Activation of microglia is a hallmark of brain pathology. However, it remains controversial whether microglial cells have beneficial or detrimental functions in various neuropathological conditions. The chronic activation of microglia may in turn cause neuronal damage through the release of potentially cytotoxic molecules such as proinflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen intermediates, proteinases and complement proteins. Therefore, suppression of microglia-mediated inflammation has been considered as an important strategy in neurodegenerative disease therapy. Several anti-inflammatory drugs of various chemical ingredients have been shown to repress the microglial activation and to exert neuroprotective effects in the CNS following different types of injuries. However, the molecular mechanisms by which these effects occur remain unclear. In recent years, several research groups including ours have attempted to explain the potential mechanisms and signaling pathways for the repressive effect of various drugs, on activation of microglial cells in CNS injury. We provide here a comprehensive review of recent findings of mechanisms and signaling pathways by which microglial cells are activated in CNS inflammatory diseases. This review article further summarizes the role of microglial cells in neurodegenerative diseases and various forms of potential therapeutic options to inhibit the microglial activation which amplifies the inflammation-related neuronal injury in neurodegenerative diseases.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Thameem Dheen S., Kaur Charanjit and Ling Eng-Ang, Microglial Activation and its Implications in the Brain Diseases, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2007; 14 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707780597961
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707780597961 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
<i>Nigella sativa</i> – A Functional Spice From A Pharaoh’s Tomb to Modern Healthcare
The Natural Products Journal Ghrelin as a Potential Anti-Obesity Target
Current Pharmaceutical Design Smoking and Congenital Heart Disease: The Epidemiological and Biological Link
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Pros and Cons of Targeting Protein Kinase c (PKC) in the Management of Cancer Patients
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Antiviral Profile of HIV Inhibitors in Macrophages: Implications for Therapy
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Current Guidelines for the Use of Fluoride in Pediatric Dentistry, A Review
Applied Clinical Research, Clinical Trials and Regulatory Affairs Nano-Therapeutics for the Lung: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Disorders of Sex Development: A Review
Current Women`s Health Reviews The Traces of Sound: Taking the Road to Skin
Current Rheumatology Reviews Telomere Maintenance as Therapeutic Target in Embryonal Tumours
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Safer Vectors for Gene Therapy of Primary Immunodeficiencies
Current Gene Therapy On Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Thiopurines in Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Pharmacology, Pharmacogenomics, Drug Intolerance and Clinical Relevance
Current Drug Metabolism Metallic Colloid Nanotechnology, Applications in Diagnosis and Therapeutics
Current Pharmaceutical Design Identifying Novel Targets for Treatment of Liver Fibrosis: What Can We Learn from Injured Tissues which Heal Without a Scar?
Current Drug Targets Current and Promising Therapies in Autosomal Recessive Ataxias
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Role of GSK-3 in Cardiac Health: Focusing on Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure
Current Drug Targets Multidrug-Resistance (MDR) Proteins Develops Refractory Epilepsy Phenotype:Clinical and Experimental Evidences
Current Drug Therapy <i>Circular RNA NF1-419</i> Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis by Regulating Lipid Metabolism in Astroglioma Cells
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Selected PET Radioligands for Ion Channel Linked Neuroreceptor Imaging: Focus on GABA, NMDA and nACh Receptors
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Treatment of Cancer
Current Reviews in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology