Microglial and neuroinflammatory signaling networks

Microglial and neuroinflammatory signaling networks encompass the complex array of molecular pathways that regulate the activation and function of microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (Colonna & Butovsky, 2017). These networks involve various receptors such as Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) and Colony Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor (CSF1R), which coordinate the brain's response to injury and protein aggregation (Ulland & Colonna, 2018). In neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, chronic dysregulation of these networks leads to persistent neuroinflammation and neuronal damage (Heneka et al., 2015). Therapeutic strategies aim to modulate these networks to shift microglia from a pro-inflammatory (neurotoxic) state to a pro-resolving (neuroprotective) state. Drugs currently in development, such as TREM2 agonists and NLRP3 inhibitors, target specific nodes within these networks to enhance phagocytosis or reduce cytokine production (Decourt et al., 2022). Understanding the temporal and spatial dynamics of these signaling networks is crucial for developing effective treatments that do not compromise the essential homeostatic roles of microglia.

Other names

Microglial signaling pathwaysNeuroinflammation signalingCNS myeloid cell signalingMicroglial activation pathways

Modulation of microglial activation states, inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and enhancement of phagocytic clearance of protein aggregates (Decourt et al., 2022).