Immune phenotypes of microglia in human neurodegenerative disease: challenges to detecting microglial polarization in human brains.

ABSTRACT: Inflammatory responses in the brain, which can be demonstrated by changes in properties of microglia, the brain-resident macrophages, are a common feature of human neurodegenerative diseases. Different monocyte/macrophage phenotypes have been defined by changes in expression of cytokines, receptors and other markers as a response to different classes of stimuli. Monocytes, macrophages and microglia can have a range of phenotypes with associated properties depending on their microenvironment. Macrophage/microglia polarization states have been defined as classical activation (M1), alternative activation (M2a), type II alternative activation (M2b) or acquired deactivation (M2c). Available markers for identifying microglial phenotypes in human brains are still limited; those available provide

SUBMITTER: Walker DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4543480 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature