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Microglia are the main innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Unlike neurons and glial cells, which derive from ectoderm, microglia migrate early during embryo development from the yolk-sac, a mesodermal-derived structure. Microglia regulate synaptic pruning during development and induce or modulate inflammation during aging and chronic diseases. Microglia are sensitive to brain injuries and threats, altering their phenotype and function to adopt a so-called immune-activated state in response to any perceived threat to the CNS integrity. Here, we present a short overview on the role of microglia in human neurodegenerative diseases and provide an update on the current model systems to study microglia, including cell lines, iPSC-derived microglia with an emphasis in their transcriptomic profile and integration into 3D brain organoids. We present various strategies to model and study their role in neurodegeneration providing a relevant platform for the development of novel and more effective therapies.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101805 | DOI Listing |
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
September 2025
School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
Engineering functional exosomes represents a cutting-edge approach in biomedicine, holding the promise to transform targeted therapy. However, challenges such as achieving consistent modification and scalability have limited their wider adoption. Herein, we introduce a universal and effective strategy for engineering multifunctional exosomes through cell fusion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
September 2025
State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug De
Proliferative retinopathy is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in humans; however, the molecular mechanisms behind the immune cell-mediated retinal angiogenesis remain poorly elucidated. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing in an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model, we identified an enrichment of sorting nexin (SNX)-related pathways, with SNX3, a member of the SNX family that is involved in endosomal sorting and trafficking, being significantly upregulated in the myeloid cell subpopulations of OIR retinas. Immunostaining showed that SNX3 expression is markedly increased in the retinal microglia/macrophages of mice with OIR, which is mainly located within and around the neovascular tufts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Biol Rep
September 2025
Department of Pharmacology, Govt. College of Pharmacy, Rohru, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, 171207, India.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common, complex, and untreatable form of dementia which is characterized by severe cognitive, motor, neuropsychiatric, and behavioural impairments. These symptoms severely reduce the quality of life for patients and impose a significant burden on caregivers. The existing therapies offer only symptomatic relief without addressing the underlying silent pathological progression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurol Res
September 2025
Department of Human Anatomy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China.
Background: Ischemic stroke can damage the cerebral white matter, resulting in myelin loss and neurological deficits. Moreover, microglial activation plays an important role in ischemic stroke; therefore, inhibiting microglial activation has become an effective therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on microglial activation and polarization, and the role of oligodendrocyte genesis in myelin reformation after ischemic stroke.
Brain Behav
September 2025
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, P. R. China.
Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a common neurological disease with a significant financial burden but lacks effective drugs. This study sought to explore the mechanisms underlying MAP kinase-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 2 (MKNK2), a gene enriched in the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling, in IS-related neurological injury.
Methods: Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) models were used in vivo and in vitro.