Cited by 301Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsBarrier Structure and Function StudiesNeurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments

Microglia–blood vessel interactions: a double-edged sword in brain pathologies

Dudvarski Stankovic, Nevenka, Teodorczyk, Marcin, Ploen, Robert, Zipp, Frauke, Schmidt, Mirko H. H.·2016·Acta Neuropathologica

Abstract

Microglia are long-living resident immune cells of the brain, which secure a stable chemical and physical microenvironment necessary for the proper functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). These highly dynamic cells continuously scan their environment for pathogens and possess the ability to react to damage-induced signals in order to protect the brain. Microglia, together with endothelial cells (ECs), pericytes and astrocytes, form the functional blood-brain barrier (BBB), a specialized endothelial structure that selectively separates the sensitive brain parenchyma from blood circulation. Microglia are in bidirectional and permanent communication with ECs and their perivascular localization enables them to survey the influx of blood-borne components into the CNS. Furthermore, they may stimulate the opening of the BBB, extravasation of leukocytes and angiogenesis. However, microglia functioning requires tight control as their dysregulation is implicated in the initiation and progression of numerous neurological diseases. Disruption of the BBB, changes in blood flow, introduction of pathogens in the sensitive CNS niche, insufficient nutrient supply, and abnormal secretion of cytokines or expression of endothelial receptors are reported to prime and attract microglia. Such reactive microglia have been reported to even escalate the damage of the brain parenchyma as is the case in ischemic injuries, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. In this review, we present the current state of the art of the causes and mechanisms of pathological interactions between microglia and blood vessels and explore the possibilities of targeting those dysfunctional interactions for the development of future therapeutics.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s00401-015-1524-y

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207 of 207 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Astrocyte reactivity is tightly linked to endothelial, which are in turn associated with loss of vascular structural integrity and opening of the BBB.

    “Astrocyte reactivity is tightly linked to endothelial [50], which are in turn associated with loss of vascular structural integrity and opening of the BBB [15, 28, 38, 45, 107, 109, 121].”
  • Under homeostatic conditions, microglia contribute to the regulation of numerous physiological functions, including neurogenesis, angiogenesis, maintaining BBB integrity, synaptic pruning and remodeling, synaptic transmission, myelin health, as well as phagocytosis and removal of apoptotic neurons and cellular debris.

    “Under homeostatic conditions, microglia contribute to the regulation of numerous physiological functions, including neurogenesis,66,67 angiogenesis,68 maintaining BBB integrity,69 synaptic pruning and remodeling,70,71 synaptic transmission,72–74 myelin health,75,76 as well as phagocytosis and removal of apoptotic neurons and cellular debris.67,77,78”
  • AD is frequently associated with vascular dysfunctions and inflammation.

    “In addition, AD is frequently associated with vascular dysfunctions and inflammation (Dudvarski Stankovic et al., 2016).”

    From The role of microglia in retinal neurodegeneration: Alzheimer’s disease, parkinson, and glaucoma. (2017) · cites this paper as Dudvarski Stankovic et al., 2016

  • Microglia express CD11b/c, D45low, and the chemokine fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1).

    “Microglia express CD11b/c, D45low, and the chemokine fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) (Dudvarski Stankovic et al., 2016).”

    From The role of microglia in retinal neurodegeneration: Alzheimer’s disease, parkinson, and glaucoma. (2017) · cites this paper as Dudvarski Stankovic et al., 2016

  • Activated microglia can induce dysfunction of the BBB, being correlated with disruption of the BBB in neurodegenerative diseases.

    “The activated microglia can induce the dysfunction of the BBB, being correlated with the disruption of the BBB in the neurodegenerative diseases (Dudvarski Stankovic et al., 2016).”

    From The role of microglia in retinal neurodegeneration: Alzheimer’s disease, parkinson, and glaucoma. (2017) · cites this paper as Dudvarski Stankovic et al., 2016

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Authors
Dudvarski Stankovic, N., Teodorczyk, M., Ploen, R., Zipp, F., & Schmidt, M. H. H.
Affiliations
  • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
  • German Cancer Research Center (DE)
Corresponding author
Schmidt, Mirko H. H.
Venue
Acta Neuropathologica
Published
2015-12-28
Volume
131
Issue
3
Pages
347-363
ISSN
  • 0001-6322 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-0533
OpenAlex
W2216083821
Cited by
301
References
207
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 6
FWCI
1.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Acta Neuropathologica (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (CRC1080 A3, CRC1080 B9, SCHM 2159/2-1)
  • Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) grant)
  • German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD scholarship)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Barrier Structure and Function Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
microglia, blood-brain barrier, pericytes, astrocytes, reactive microglia, blood-brain barrier disruption, leukocyte transmigration, angiogenesis, ischemic brain injury, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, neuroinflammation, therapeutic targeting
MeSH terms
Animals, Blood-Brain Barrier, Brain, Brain Diseases, Humans, Microglia, Endothelial Cells

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