Eyo and Dailey's review Microglia:
Key Elements in Neural Development, Plasticity, and Pathology analyzed data
from various studies on microglial cell function and behavior. It provided a
comprehensive account of the role of microglia in the damaged central nervous
system, detailing their involvement in a wide span of processes relating to development,
behavior, pathology, and, potentially, therapeutics. I was particularly
interested of the role microglia may play with respect to the immune system, as
this seems to hold the most potential in treatment of some of the most
challenging and common neural diseases.
Microglial cells are lauded as the
immune cells of the nervous system. Their engagement and clearance of cellular
debris and cells that are damaged or infected attests to their functional
capabilities as phagocytes. Eyo and Dailey cited observations of microglial
engulfment of presynaptic material in the developing nervous system, as well as
in vivo studies of leech, goldfish, rat, and mouse specimen as further evidence
of this immune-related function of microglia.
It is known that early on in prion
infection, microglia and astrocytes become activated prior to neural damage or
death. A news release by the National Institutes of Health, "Microglia are
key defenders against prion diseases" further supports the notion that
microglia provide defense against infection. The paper describes the promising
research findings of Carroll and colleagues, whose work with experimental drug
PLX5622 showed that decreasing microglial activity resulted in heightened prion
disease progression. The information from this study, Microglia are critical in
host defense against prion disease, proves promising in terms of treatment
development, as it reveals the potential for drugs to slow prion disease
progression by assisting microglia in their defensive role.
The review by Eyo and Dailey also
turned attention towards studies on zebrafish as recent areas of progress in
the understanding of microglial behavior, especially as it relates to immune
function. Due to optical transparency and considerable characterization of the
zebrafish developmental system, which bears similarities with that in humans,
this specimen has been an excellent model for demonstrating microglial
phagocytosis.
One study that has made use of the
zebrafish model is that conducted by Wen Zilong and colleagues at the Hong Kong
University of Science and Technology. This research lab is the largest
zebrafish research facility in Hong Kong and primarily focused on the cellular
and molecular basis of macrophage development and the roles of microglia in
organ development and tissue regeneration. By studying the developing brain in
zebrafish, it has been able to gain insight into the development of
neurodegenerative disorders and recently encountered a breakthrough finding.
Using light-induced mapping technology, it has observed a relationship between
microglia and dementia vulnerability. This finding could help further medical
developments to mediate and potentially delay the onset of diseases such as
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. It is yet another testament to the promising
trajectory of the study of microglia, both in the understanding of
neuropathology as well as treatment.
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