Phagocytosis of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Author:
Yue-Ying LIU
1
;
Tian-Shu DU
1
;
Yang LIU
1
;
Zhen ZHANG
1
;
Ai-Niwaer AIZIER
1
;
Xiao-Li GONG
2
;
Xiao-Min WANG
2
;
Ting ZHANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
2. Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
- Publication Type:Review
- MeSH:
Alzheimer Disease;
Genome-Wide Association Study;
Humans;
Microglia/metabolism*;
Neurodegenerative Diseases;
Phagocytosis/physiology*
- From:
Acta Physiologica Sinica
2022;74(2):283-293
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
With the acceleration of the aging society, neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), have become a rapidly growing global health crisis. Recent studies have indicated that microglia-neuron interactions are critical for maintaining homeostasis of the central nervous system. Genome-Wide Association Studies and brain imaging studies have suggested that microglia are activated in early stage of neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia are specialized phagocytes in the brain. The discovery of a new phagocytic pathway, trogocytosis, suggests that there is a close interaction between microglia and surviving neurons. In this review, we summarize the important roles of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases, and further analyze the functions and molecular mechanisms of microglia phagocytosis and trogocytosis.