Journal article
Microglia: key elements in neural development, plasticity, and pathology
Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology, Vol.8(3), pp.494-509
06/2013
DOI: 10.1007/s11481-013-9434-z
PMCID: PMC3657325
PMID: 23354784
Abstract
A century after Cajal identified a "third element" of the nervous system, many issues have been clarified about the identity and function of one of its major components, the microglia. Here, we review recent findings by microgliologists, highlighting results from imaging studies that are helping provide new views of microglial behavior and function. In vivo imaging in the intact adult rodent CNS has revolutionized our understanding of microglial behaviors in situ and has raised speculation about their function in the uninjured adult brain. Imaging studies in ex vivo mammalian tissue preparations and in intact model organisms including zebrafish are providing insights into microglial behaviors during brain development. These data suggest that microglia play important developmental roles in synapse remodeling, developmental apoptosis, phagocytic clearance, and angiogenesis. Because microglia also contribute to pathology, including neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral disorders, ischemic injury, and neuropathic pain, promising new results raise the possibility of leveraging microglia for therapeutic roles. Finally, exciting recent work is addressing unanswered questions regarding the nature of microglial-neuronal communication. While it is now apparent that microglia play diverse roles in neural development, behavior, and pathology, future research using neuroimaging techniques will be essential to more fully exploit these intriguing cellular targets for effective therapeutic intervention applied to a variety of conditions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Microglia: key elements in neural development, plasticity, and pathology
- Creators
- Ukpong B Eyo - Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAMichael E Dailey
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology, Vol.8(3), pp.494-509
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11481-013-9434-z
- PMID
- 23354784
- PMCID
- PMC3657325
- NLM abbreviation
- J Neuroimmune Pharmacol
- ISSN
- 1557-1890
- eISSN
- 1557-1904
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- AA018823 / NIAAA NIH HHS R21 AA018823 / NIAAA NIH HHS S10 RR017941 / NCRR NIH HHS R01 NS043468 / NINDS NIH HHS P30 DC010362 / NIDCD NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/2013
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9983991990802771
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