Signaling events regulating microglial functions and activation phenotypes

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Microglia are the immune cells of brain, which they protect from pathogens. In addition, microglial phagocytosis activity, cytokine production, and trophic factor secretion regulate neuronal plasticity, the key phenomenon that allows brain to reorganize its neural connections in response to new situations. While modulated microglial activity is beneficial, dysregulated microglial actions can cause neuronal dysfunction and promote cognitive deficits and neuronal death. These opposite roles of microglia are feasible because of their diverse functions attributed to specific activation phenotypes.