Microglia Function in Central Nervous System Development and Plasticity

The nervous system comprises a remarkably diverse and complex network of different cell types, which must communicate with one another with speed, reliability, and precision. Thus, the developmental patterning and maintenance of these cell populations and their connections with one another pose a rather formidable task. Emerging data implicate microglia, the resident myeloid-derived cells of the central nervous system (CNS), in the spatial patterning and synaptic wiring throughout the healthy, developing, and adult CNS. Importantly, new tools to specifically manipulate microglia function have revealed that these cellular functions translate, on a systems level, to effects on overall behavior. In this review, we give a historical perspective of work to identify microglia function in the healthy CNS and highlight exciting new work in the field that has identified roles for these cells in CNS development, maintenance, and plasticity.Microglia are one of the most enigmatic and understudied populations in the brain. Until recently, most of what was known about their function has been associated with their rapid and robust responses to disease and injury (Ransohoff and Perry 2009; Graeber 2010; Ransohoff and Cardona 2010). The idea that microglia could be performing normal, homeostatic functions is a relatively new concept, galvanized by pioneering in vivo imaging studies, which revealed that the processes of “resting” microglia are highly motile in the intact, healthy adult brain (Davalos et al. 2005; Nimmerjahn et al. 2005). Remarkably, it is estimated that these microglial processes survey the entire brain parenchyma within a matter of hours, raising many questions about the significance of this immune surveillance system.Since these initial findings, there has been a surge in the field to examine functional roles of microglia in the healthy central nervous system (CNS), with a primary focus on postnatal development. This focus was, to a large extent, incited by a landmark fate-mapping study in the mouse showing that microglia develop from primitive myeloid progenitors in the embryonic yolk sac and begin to colonize the brain during early embryonic development (approximately embryonic day 9.5 [∼E9.5] in the mouse) (Ginhoux et al. 2010). Given this early colonization, microglia are poised to play important roles in shaping the developing CNS and contributing to overall nervous system function. Indeed, recent work has shown that microglia in the developing CNS can physically interact with neuronal soma and synapses in response to changes in neural activity, and data implicate microglia in many functions required to build and wire the developing CNS ranging from neurogenesis to synaptic pruning (Tremblay 2011; Tremblay et al. 2011; Kettenmann et al. 2013; Schafer et al. 2013; Wake et al. 2013; Salter and Beggs 2014). Furthermore, emerging work in the juvenile and adult reveal that these interactions and functions observed in the postnatal brain occur more broadly to affect plasticity over the life span of the animal, ultimately affecting behavior.In this chapter, we review the latest findings in the field on microglia function in CNS development and plasticity. Our goal is to give a comprehensive and critical perspective of this relatively new area of research and highlight new questions. Furthermore, we discuss novel strategies to manipulate microglia function that will contribute to our understanding of these cells in the healthy nervous system and, ultimately, help to identify mechanisms of disease.     

HMGB1 in Development and Diseases of the Central Nervous System

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is widely expressed in cells of vertebrates in two forms: a nuclear "architectural" factor and a secreted inflammatory factor. During early brain development, HMGB1 displays a complex temporal and spatial distribution pattern in the central nervous system. It facilitates neurite outgrowth and cell migration critical for processes, such as forebrain development. During adulthood, HMGB1 serves to induce neuroinflammation after injury, such as lesions in the spinal cord and brain. Receptor for advanced glycation end products and Toll-like receptors signal transduction pathways mediate HMGB1-induced neuroinflammation and necrosis. Increased levels of endogenous HMGB1 have also been detected in neurodegenerative diseases. However, in Huntington's disease, HMGB1 has been reported to protect neurons through activation of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease and 5'-flap endonuclease-1, whereas in other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, HMGB1 serves as a risk factor for memory impairment, chronic neurodegeneration, and progression of neuroinflammation. Thus, HMGB1 plays important and double-edged roles during neural development and neurodegeneration. The HMGB1-mediated pathological mechanisms have remained largely elusive. Knowledge of these mechanisms is likely to lead to therapeutic targets for neurological diseases.     

TWEAK and the Central Nervous System

Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily that acts on responsive cells via binding to a cell surface receptor named fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14). TWEAK can regulate numerous cellular responses in vitro and in vivo. Recent studies have indicated that TWEAK and Fn14 are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), and that in response to a variety of stimuli, including cerebral ischemia, there is an increase in TWEAK and Fn14 expression in perivascular astrocytes, microglia, endothelial cells, and neurons with subsequent increase in the permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and cell death. Furthermore, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that TWEAK induces the activation of the NF-κB in the CNS with release of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases. In addition, inhibition of TWEAK activity by either treatment with a Fn14-Fc fusion protein or neutralizing anti-TWEAK antibodies has shown therapeutic efficacy in animal models of ischemic stroke, cerebral edema, and multiple sclerosis.     

东北小鲵中枢神经系统形态学与组织学初步研究

本文应用脊椎动物神经标本制作法和HE染色法,对东北小鲵中枢神经系统的外部形态和组织学结构进行了初步研究,描述了东北小鲵神经系统形态和组织学结构的特点,并与无尾两栖类和爬行类相对比,探讨了有尾两栖类的进化地位。结果表明:与无尾两栖类(如蛙)相比,东北小鲵中枢神经系统中,大脑半球较小,结构较为原始,小脑结构简单,是两栖类中较为原始的类群。此外,东北小鲵开始具有了臂神经丛和骶神经丛,但没有爬行类的发达,可作为两栖类向爬行类进化的证据之一。     

Vimentin in the Central Nervous System

Intermediate filament proteins were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in urea extracts of rat optic nerves undergoing Wallerian degeneration and in cytoskeletal preparations of rat brain and spinal cord during postnatal development. The glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein and vimentin were the major optic nerve proteins following Wallerian degeneration. Vimentin was a major cytoskeletal component of newborn central nervous system (CNS) and then progressively decreased until it became barely identifiable in mature brain and spinal cord. The decrease of vimentin occurred concomitantly with an increase in GFA protein. A protein with the apparent molecular weight of 61,000 and isoelectric point of 5.6 was identified in both cytoskeletal preparations of brain and spinal cord, and in urea extracts of normal optic nerves. The protein disappeared together with the polypeptides forming the neurofilament triplet in degenerated optic nerves.     

高碳酸血症对中枢神经系统的作用

随着小潮气量通气策略和允许性高碳酸血症在急性呼吸窘迫征、急性肺损伤、肺部感染和其他肺部疾病中的推广和应用,高碳酸血症的肺脏保护作用及其机制也逐渐被阐明.研究表明,高碳酸血症对心血管、肝脏、胃肠道、脑等器官功能均有保护作用,尤其是其对中枢神经系统的影响已成为学者们关注的焦点问题.本文旨在总结高碳酸血症对中枢神经系统的作用.     

Caspase与神经系统疾病

近年来,细胞凋亡发生机制的研究已取得众多进展。研究表明,许多神经系统疾病与caspase家族有着密切联系。现将细胞凋亡的最新研究结果及其与神经系统疾病的关系,尤其是caspase家族在神经系统疾病中的主导地位作简单综述,希望由此了解神经元细胞凋亡的内在机制并达到治疗目的。     

BRCA2 Function and the Central Nervous System

Defective responses to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) in the nervous system can lead to neurodegeneration or tumorigenesis. A key player in the repair of DNA DSBs is the tumor suppressor BRCA2, an essential component of the homologous recombination repair pathway and the Fanconi Anemia complex. We recently demonstrated that BRCA2 was required for normal neurogenesis and prevention of medulloblastoma brain tumors. Here, we discuss how this study contributes both to our understanding of BRCA2 functions in vivo, and the tissue-specific requirements for DNA repair and damage-signaling pathways.     

Reactive Oxygen Species and the Central Nervous System

Radicals are species containing one or more unpaired electrons, such as nitric oxide (NO.). The oxygen radical superoxide (O2.-) and the nonradical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are produced during normal metabolism and perform several useful functions. Excessive production of O2.- and H2O2 can result in tissue damage, which often involves generation of highly reactive hydroxyl radical (.OH) and other oxidants in the presence of "catalytic" iron or copper ions. An important form of antioxidant defense is the storage and transport of iron and copper ions in forms that will not catalyze formation of reactive radicals. Tissue injury, e.g., by ischemia or trauma, can cause increased metal ion availability and accelerate free radical reactions. This may be especially important in the brain because areas of this organ are rich in iron and CSF cannot bind released iron ions. Oxidative stress on nervous tissue can produce damage by several interacting mechanisms, including increases in intracellular free Ca2+ and, possibly, release of excitatory amino acids. Recent suggestions that free radical reactions are involved in the neurotoxicity of aluminum and in damage to the substantia nigra in patients with Parkinson's disease are reviewed. Finally, the nature of antioxidants is discussed, it being suggested that antioxidant enzymes and chelators of transition metal ions may be more generally useful protective agents than chain-breaking antioxidants. Careful precautions must be used in the design of antioxidants for therapeutic use.     

POU蛋白调节中枢神经系统发育

POU蛋白是一组DNA特异的转录调节因子,属同源异形序列超家族.发育过程中,POU蛋白编码基因在中枢神经系统各部位的时空性表达决定神经细胞的发育与分化.