Functions of microglia in immune mechanisms in the central nervous system]

Microglia are only one type of professional immune cells in the central nervous system, functioning as scavenger cells that remove pathogens, and as antigen presenting cells that present brain-specific antigens to invading T cells. They also play a critical role in the pathophysiology of various CNS disorders as effector cells to destroy neural cells by secreting inflammatory cytokines, radicals, and glutamate. At the same time, they can protect neural functions by producing neurotrophic factors. Thus, to study the mechanisms for regulation of microglial functions may be useful for understanding the etiology and future therapeutic strategy for intractable neurological disorders.