Ziebell Jenna M, Adelson P David, Lifshitz Jonathan
Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA,
Metab Brain Dis. 2015 Apr;30(2):393-400. doi: 10.1007/s11011-014-9539-y. Epub 2014 Apr 15.
The brain is comprised of neurons and its support system including astrocytes, glial cells and microglia, thereby forming neurovascular units. Neurons require support from glial cells to establish and maintain functional circuits, but microglia are often overlooked. Microglia function as the immune cell of the central nervous system, acting to monitor the microenvironment for changes in signaling, pathogens and injury. More recently, other functional roles for microglia within the healthy brain have been identified, including regulating synapse formation, elimination and function. This review aims to highlight and discuss these alternate microglial roles in the healthy and in contrast, diseased brain with a focus on two acute neurological diseases, traumatic brain injury and epilepsy. In these conditions, microglial roles in synaptic stripping and stabilization as part of neuronal:glial interactions may position them as mediators of the transition between injury-induced circuit dismantling and subsequent reorganization. Increased understanding of microglia roles could identify therapeutic targets to mitigate the consequences of neurological disease.
大脑由神经元及其支持系统组成，支持系统包括星形胶质细胞、神经胶质细胞和小胶质细胞，由此形成神经血管单元。神经元需要神经胶质细胞的支持来建立和维持功能回路，但小胶质细胞常常被忽视。小胶质细胞作为中枢神经系统的免疫细胞，负责监测微环境中信号、病原体和损伤的变化。最近，已确定小胶质细胞在健康大脑中的其他功能作用，包括调节突触的形成、消除和功能。本综述旨在重点介绍和讨论小胶质细胞在健康大脑以及与之形成对比的患病大脑中的这些不同作用，重点关注两种急性神经疾病，即创伤性脑损伤和癫痫。在这些情况下，作为神经元与神经胶质细胞相互作用一部分的小胶质细胞在突触剥离和稳定方面所起的作用，可能使它们成为损伤诱导的回路拆解与随后重组之间转变的介质。对小胶质细胞作用的进一步了解可能有助于确定治疗靶点，以减轻神经疾病的后果。
