Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Progress of the Year 2014

The role of microglia in inflammatory demyelination lesion in the central nervous system

Ryo Yamasaki, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1)Department of Neurological Therapeutics, Neurological Institutes, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University

In the lesion of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), two different kinds of macrophages are activated: microglia derived macrophages (MiDM) and monocytes derived macrophages (MDM). These macrophages elicit different functions in the development of demyelination lesions in EAE. MDMs are infiltrated in the acute phase of EAE, and initiate demyelination at the nodes of Ranvier. On the other hands, MiDM always activated at the peak and the chronic stage of the disease. These macrophages express totally different cytokines at different time course of the disease: MDM are activated in the early stage of the disease and express genes that are mainly related to inflammation, while MiDM are activated at the peak and recovery stage and express genes that are related to homeostasis. Our findings provide the idea to develop new therapeutic strategy not only for demyelinating disease but also other neurological diseases with neuro-inflammation.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (1177K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 54: 981|983, 2014)
key words: multiple sclerosis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, monocyte, microglia, macrophage

(Received: 23-May-14)