Exp Mol Med.  2006 Aug;38(4):333-347.

Microglia, major player in the brain inflammation: their roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease

• Kim YS
• Joh TH

Abstract

Inflammation, a self-defensive reaction against various pathogenic stimuli, may become harmful self-damaging process. Increasing evidence has linked chronic inflammation to a number of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis. In the central nervous system, microglia, the resident innate immune cells play major role in the inflammatory process. Although they form the first line of defense for the neural parenchyma, uncontrolled activation of microglia may directly toxic to neurons by releasing various substances such as inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6), NO, PGE

Keyword

inflammation; microglia; neurodegenerative diseases; Parkinson's disease; phagocytosis; stromelysin 1; superoxides

MeSH Terms

alpha-Synuclein/physiology
Signal Transduction
Parkinson Disease/*etiology/immunology
Multiple Sclerosis/etiology
Models, Biological
Microglia/immunology/metabolism/*physiology
Metalloproteases/physiology
Melanins/physiology
Matrix Metalloproteinase 3
Inflammation Mediators/metabolism
Humans
Encephalitis/*etiology/immunology
Cytokines/secretion
Animals
Alzheimer Disease/etiology
AIDS Dementia Complex/etiology