Vegeto Elisabetta, Benedusi Valeria, Maggi Adriana
Centre of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Milan, via Balzaretti, 9 20133 Milan, Italy.
Front Neuroendocrinol. 2008 Oct;29(4):507-19. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2008.04.001. Epub 2008 Apr 29.
Recent studies highlight the prominent role played by estrogens in protecting the central nervous system (CNS) against the noxious consequences of a chronic inflammatory reaction. The neurodegenerative process of several CNS diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases, is associated with the activation of microglia cells, which drive the resident inflammatory response. Chronically stimulated during neurodegeneration, microglia cells are thought to provide detrimental effects on surrounding neurons. The inhibitory activity of estrogens on neuroinflammation and specifically on microglia might thus be considered as a beneficial therapeutic opportunity for delaying the onset or progression of neurodegenerative diseases; in addition, understanding the peculiar activity of this female hormone on inflammatory signalling pathways will possibly lead to the development of selected anti-inflammatory molecules. This review summarises the evidence for the involvement of microglia in neuroinflammation and the anti-inflammatory activity played by estrogens specifically in microglia.
最近的研究突出了雌激素在保护中枢神经系统（CNS）免受慢性炎症反应有害后果方面所起的重要作用。包括多发性硬化症、阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病在内的几种中枢神经系统疾病的神经退行性过程与小胶质细胞的激活有关，小胶质细胞驱动局部炎症反应。在神经退行性变过程中受到长期刺激的小胶质细胞被认为会对周围神经元产生有害影响。因此，雌激素对神经炎症尤其是对小胶质细胞的抑制活性可能被视为延缓神经退行性疾病发病或进展的有益治疗机会；此外，了解这种女性激素在炎症信号通路中的特殊活性可能会导致开发特定的抗炎分子。本综述总结了小胶质细胞参与神经炎症的证据以及雌激素特别是在小胶质细胞中发挥的抗炎活性。
