Microglial Signaling in Health and Disease

Microglia are a key cell type in the central nervous system that play a role in a plethora of functions throughout development, in homeostasis, and in disease states. As the resident immune cells of the developed brain, microglia survey their environment for threats to the CNS and induce a cytokine and chemokine response to resolve the pathological insult. Activated microglia can polarize into pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory states to maintain homeostasis in the brain; however, the regulation of these activation phenotypes can become disordered in various pathological and disease states. Altered microglial signaling represents a critical pathway in neurodegenerative disease, psychiatric conditions, aging, and other areas of great clinical interest. Research into microglial signaling in health and disease pursues therapeutic interventions aimed at ameliorating these conditions.