The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stress
Abstract Microglia are emerging as critical regulators of neuronal function and behavior in nearly every area of neuroscience. Initial reports focused on classical immune functions of microglia in pathological contexts, however, immunological concepts from these studies have been applied to describe...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Neuroinflammation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-021-02309-6 |
| _version_ | 1818913937529241600 |
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| author | Samuel C. Woodburn Justin L. Bollinger Eric S. Wohleb |
| author_facet | Samuel C. Woodburn Justin L. Bollinger Eric S. Wohleb |
| author_sort | Samuel C. Woodburn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Microglia are emerging as critical regulators of neuronal function and behavior in nearly every area of neuroscience. Initial reports focused on classical immune functions of microglia in pathological contexts, however, immunological concepts from these studies have been applied to describe neuro-immune interactions in the absence of disease, injury, or infection. Indeed, terms such as ‘microglia activation’ or ‘neuroinflammation’ are used ubiquitously to describe changes in neuro-immune function in disparate contexts; particularly in stress research, where these terms prompt undue comparisons to pathological conditions. This creates a barrier for investigators new to neuro-immunology and ultimately hinders our understanding of stress effects on microglia. As more studies seek to understand the role of microglia in neurobiology and behavior, it is increasingly important to develop standard methods to study and define microglial phenotype and function. In this review, we summarize primary research on the role of microglia in pathological and physiological contexts. Further, we propose a framework to better describe changes in microglia1 phenotype and function in chronic stress. This approach will enable more precise characterization of microglia in different contexts, which should facilitate development of microglia-directed therapeutics in psychiatric and neurological disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T23:38:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-42cf4b74906b4a63ac29a5df26179759 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-2094 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T23:38:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Neuroinflammation |
| spelling | doaj.art-42cf4b74906b4a63ac29a5df261797592022-12-21T20:01:30ZengBMCJournal of Neuroinflammation1742-20942021-11-0118111610.1186/s12974-021-02309-6The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stressSamuel C. Woodburn0Justin L. Bollinger1Eric S. Wohleb2Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of MedicineDepartment of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of MedicineDepartment of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of MedicineAbstract Microglia are emerging as critical regulators of neuronal function and behavior in nearly every area of neuroscience. Initial reports focused on classical immune functions of microglia in pathological contexts, however, immunological concepts from these studies have been applied to describe neuro-immune interactions in the absence of disease, injury, or infection. Indeed, terms such as ‘microglia activation’ or ‘neuroinflammation’ are used ubiquitously to describe changes in neuro-immune function in disparate contexts; particularly in stress research, where these terms prompt undue comparisons to pathological conditions. This creates a barrier for investigators new to neuro-immunology and ultimately hinders our understanding of stress effects on microglia. As more studies seek to understand the role of microglia in neurobiology and behavior, it is increasingly important to develop standard methods to study and define microglial phenotype and function. In this review, we summarize primary research on the role of microglia in pathological and physiological contexts. Further, we propose a framework to better describe changes in microglia1 phenotype and function in chronic stress. This approach will enable more precise characterization of microglia in different contexts, which should facilitate development of microglia-directed therapeutics in psychiatric and neurological disease.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-021-02309-6MicrogliaInflammationHomeostasisStressParainflammationDepression |
| spellingShingle | Samuel C. Woodburn Justin L. Bollinger Eric S. Wohleb The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stress Journal of Neuroinflammation Microglia Inflammation Homeostasis Stress Parainflammation Depression |
| title | The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stress |
| title_full | The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stress |
| title_fullStr | The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stress |
| title_short | The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stress |
| title_sort | semantics of microglia activation neuroinflammation homeostasis and stress |
| topic | Microglia Inflammation Homeostasis Stress Parainflammation Depression |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-021-02309-6 |
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