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
-
Proteomics, and Metabolomics: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for the Presurgical Screening of Thyroid Nodules
Current Genomics Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Current HIV Research Genome Engineering with TAL-Effector Nucleases and Alternative Modular Nuclease Technologies
Current Gene Therapy Immunostimulatory Oligonucleotides
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Recurrent Left Atrial Low-grade Malignant Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Characterized by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Current Medical Imaging CD164 as a Basophil Activation Marker
Current Pharmaceutical Design Recent Progress Toward Hydrogen Medicine: Potential of Molecular Hydrogen for Preventive and Therapeutic Applications
Current Pharmaceutical Design Synthesis and Biological Interest of Structured Docosahexaenoic Acid–Containing Triacylglycerols and Phospholipids
Current Organic Chemistry Approaches for Administering Chemotherapy in the Intensive Care Unit
Current Drug Safety Defining Cell Identity by Comprehensive Gene Expression Profiling
Current Medicinal Chemistry Targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Pathway as Therapy for Glioblastoma
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Beneficial Effects of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants on the Metabolic Syndrome, Brain and Cognitive Function
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Heterocyclic Scaffolds: Centrality in Anticancer Drug Development
Current Drug Targets Editorial [ Hot Topic: Anti Alzheimer Agents (Guest Editor: Helmut Hugel)]
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Human Saliva Metabolome for Oral Lichen Planus Biomarker Identification
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Curcumin: Structure-Activity Relationship Towards its Role as a Versatile Multi-Targeted Therapeutics
Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry Competitive Interaction Between Plasma Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Arachidonic Acid is Related to Down-Regulation of A Signaling Mediator
Medicinal Chemistry Pain Management in Hematological Patients with Major Organ Dysfunctions and Comorbid Illnesses
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Therapeutic Strategies for Huntingtons Disease: From the Bench to the Clinic
Current Psychopharmacology Modulators of Nucleoside Metabolism in the Therapy of Brain Diseases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry