Cited by 319Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsMultiple Sclerosis Research StudiesTryptophan and brain disorders

Control of glial immune function by neurons

Neumann, Harald·2001·Glia

Abstract

The immune status of the central nervous system (CNS) is strictly regulated. In the healthy brain, immune responses are kept to a minimum. In contrast, in a variety of inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, infections, trauma, stroke, neoplasia, and Alzheimer's disease, glial cells such as microglia gain antigen‐presenting capacity through the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Further, proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), as well as chemokines, are synthesized by resident brain cells and T lymphocytes invade the affected brain tissue. The proinflammatory cytokines stimulate microglial MHC expression in the lesioned CNS areas only. However, the induction of brain immunity is strongly counterregulated in intact CNS areas. For instance, recent work demonstrated that microglia are kept in a quiescent state in the intact CNS by local interactions between the microglia receptor CD200 and its ligand, which is expressed on neurons. Work done in our laboratory showed that neurons suppressed MHC expression in surrounding glial cells, in particular microglia and astrocytes. This control of MHC expression by neurons was dependent on their electrical activity. In brain tissue with intact neurons, the MHC class II inducibility of microglia and astrocytes by the proinflammatory cytokine IFN‐γ was reduced. Paralysis of neuronal electric activity by neurotoxins restored the induction of MHC molecules on microglia and astrocytes. Loss of neurons or their physiological activity would render the impaired CNS areas recognizable by invading T lymphocytes. Thus, immunity in the CNS is inhibited by the local microenvironment, in particular by physiologically active neurons, to prevent unwanted immune mediated damage of neurons. GLIA 36:191–199, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Crossref · 10.1002/glia.1108

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  • Upon aging, microglia increasingly adopt a pro-inflammatory state due to a decrease in the resting signaling by neurons and astrocytes.

    “Upon aging, microglia increasingly adopt a pro-inflammatory state due to a decrease in the resting signaling by neurons and astrocytes [38, 39].”

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Authors
Neumann, H.
Affiliations
European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen (DE)
Corresponding author
Neumann, Harald
Venue
Glia
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2001-10-02
Volume
36
Issue
2
Pages
191-199
ISSN
  • 0894-1491 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-1136
OpenAlex
W2041112741
Cited by
319
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 13
FWCI
2.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Glia (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
neuron-glia interactions, microglia, astrocytes, MHC class II expression, CD200, neuronal electrical activity, interferon-gamma, inflammatory cytokines, neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Communication, Central Nervous System, Central Nervous System Diseases, Histocompatibility Antigens, Humans, Immunologic Surveillance, Neuroglia, Neurons, Microglia, Antigen Presentation

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