Regulation of microglia polarization after cerebral ischemia

Hao Wang; Jingjing Li; Han Zhang; Mengyao Wang; Lifang Xiao; Yitong Wang; Qiong Cheng

doi:10.3389/fncel.2023.1182621

Regulation of microglia polarization after cerebral ischemia

Front Cell Neurosci. 2023 Jun 8:17:1182621. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1182621. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Hao Wang¹, Jingjing Li¹, Han Zhang², Mengyao Wang¹, Lifang Xiao¹, Yitong Wang¹, Qiong Cheng¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Province Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
² School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China.

Abstract

Stroke ranks second as a leading cause of death and permanent disability globally. Microglia, innate immune cells in the brain, respond rapidly to ischemic injury, triggering a robust and persistent neuroinflammatory reaction throughout the disease's progression. Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the mechanism of secondary injury in ischemic stroke and is a significant controllable factor. Microglia activation takes on two general phenotypes: the pro-inflammatory M1 type and the anti-inflammatory M2 type, although the reality is more complex. The regulation of microglia phenotype is crucial to controlling the neuroinflammatory response. This review summarized the key molecules and mechanisms of microglia polarization, function, and phenotypic transformation following cerebral ischemia, with a focus on the influence of autophagy on microglia polarization. The goal is to provide a reference for the development of new targets for the treatment for ischemic stroke treatment based on the regulation of microglia polarization.

Keywords: autophagy; cerebral ischemia; microglia; neuroinflammation; polarization.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This research was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 81501058 and 82071355; the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China, No. 20KJA310011; and a grant from the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).