P171: Microglia Cell, Major Player in the Central Nervous System Inflammation

Microglia Initiate Central Nervous System

ADENOSINE IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Besides being a metabolite of nucleotides like ATP, adenosine is a mediator of neuronal function in the central nervous system. Its actions are mediated by at least three extracellular receptors. In this review different aspects of adenosine such as biosynthesis, release, inactivation and its receptors are discussed. It also covers pre- and postsynaptic effects as well as postreceptor mecha...

Microglia: gatekeepers of central nervous system immunology.

Microglia are perhaps the most underestimated cell type of our immune system. Not only were immunologists unaware of their capabilities until recently, but also, some neuroscientists denied their actual existence until the late 20th century. Nowadays, their presence is confirmed extensively, as demonstrated by numerous reports describing their involvement in virtually all neuropathologies. Howe...

Microglia: immunoregulatory cells in the central nervous system.

Microglia are one of three types of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Although the origin of the cells is still controversial, several lines of evidences suggest that they are bone marrow-derived, monocyte-macrophage lineage cells that enter the brain during embryonic development and differentiate into ramified resting microglia through a series of morphologic transformations. Af...

Oligodendrocyte-microglia cross-talk in the central nervous system.

Communication between the immune system and the central nervous system (CNS) is exemplified by cross-talk between glia and neurons shown to be essential for maintaining homeostasis. While microglia are actively modulated by neurons in the healthy brain, little is known about the cross-talk between oligodendrocytes and microglia. Oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells in the CNS, are essenti...

P167: Key Role of Inflammation in Central Nervous System Damage and Disease; TNFα, IL-1

Inflammation is portion of the body's immune response and it is basically a host protective response to tissue ischemia, injury, autoimmune responses or infectious agents. Although the information presented so far points to a detrimental role for inflammation in central nervous system (CNS) disease, it may also be useful. CNS demonstrates characteristic of inflammation, and in response to damag...