Neuron-macrophage interaction

Neuron-macrophage interaction refers to the complex bidirectional communication between neurons and macrophage populations, including resident microglia in the central nervous system and peripheral macrophages in the peripheral nervous system. This crosstalk is mediated by various signaling molecules such as cytokines, chemokines (e.g., CX3CL1), and growth factors (e.g., CSF1), and is essential for maintaining neural homeostasis, guiding development, and responding to injury (Nature Reviews Immunology, 2014, PMID: 24625841). In pathological states, such as chronic pain or neurodegeneration, these interactions can become maladaptive, leading to sustained neuroinflammation and neuronal damage (Science, 2017, PMID: 28983042). While the interaction itself is not a single molecular target, specific pathways within this axis are actively pursued as therapeutic targets to resolve inflammation and promote neuroprotection. Modulating these interactions aims to treat conditions like Alzheimer's disease and neuropathic pain by resetting the immune environment surrounding the neurons.

Other names

Neuro-immune crosstalkNeuro-immune interactionNeuron-microglia interactionPeripheral nerve-macrophage crosstalk

Modulation of cytokine and chemokine signaling between neural and immune cells, inhibition of macrophage recruitment to neural tissue, and blockade of specific receptor-ligand pairs such as CSF1R or CX3CR1 to reduce neuroinflammation.