13 Facts About Microglia

Microglia are a type of neuroglia located throughout the brain and spinal cord.

Microglia are distributed in large non-overlapping regions throughout the CNS.

Microglia are key cells in overall brain maintenance—they are constantly scavenging the CNS for plaques, damaged or unnecessary neurons and synapses, and infectious agents.

Microglia adopt a specific form, or phenotype, in response to the local conditions and chemical signals they have detected.

Microglia can take on the role of neuroprotection or neurotoxicity in order to face these dangers.

Related searches

Microglia can be activated by a variety of factors including: pro-inflammatory cytokines, cell necrosis factors, lipopolysaccharide, and changes in extracellular potassium .

Microglia accomplish this through an extremely complicated series of extracellular signaling molecules which allow them to communicate with other microglia, astrocytes, nerves, T-cells, and myeloid progenitor cells.

Microglia-produced TNF-a causes neural tissue to undergo apoptosis and increases inflammation.

Microglia have been shown to contribute to proper brain development, through contacting immature, developing neurons.

Microglia differ from macrophages in that they are much more tightly regulated spatially and temporally in order to maintain a precise immune response.

Microglia undergo a burst of mitotic activity during injury; this proliferation is followed by apoptosis to reduce the cell numbers back to baseline.

Microglia are the primary immune cells of the central nervous system, similar to peripheral macrophages.

Microglia have been extensively studied for their harmful roles in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis, as well as cardiac diseases, glaucoma, and viral and bacterial infections.