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Astrocytes Modulate Microglial Phenotype And Dendritic Cell-Like Properties, Nischal K. Padala
Astrocytes Modulate Microglial Phenotype And Dendritic Cell-Like Properties, Nischal K. Padala
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Microglia are the resident immune cells of the CNS. In the healthy CNS, they express negligible levels of MHC II molecules as well as co-stimulatory molecules CD40, CD80 and CD86 necessary for antigen presentation to and activation of T cells. Co-stimulatory molecule expression can be induced in isolated microglia in vitro by sequential treatment with granulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Upon such treatment, they become mature dendritic cells (DCs), capable of activating T cells. However, microglia are not isolated in life, but rather exist in an environment enriched by other cells, notably astrocytes.
Therefore, to determine …