Progress in microglia cell development and its function in central nervous system / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Microglia are a type of immune cells and widely distributed in the central nervous system(CNS), accounting for about 5% to 20% of the total number of glial cells. Microglia were first identified by Hortega using the silver carbonate method.It is believed that microglia originate from the mesoderm and invade the brain during the formation of blood vessels in the late embryonic development.Recent research shows that microglia are derived from yolk sac-derived macrophages. As a resident immune cell of the CNS,microglia belong to the monocyte-macrophage cell line and are an important immuno-logical defense against the invasion of pathogens. The resting microglia play a role in monitoring the nervous system to maintain the homeostasis.The activated microglia play a role in phagocytosis of cell debris and have neuroprotective and neurotoxic dual roles under different pathological conditions by secreting different cytokines.