Local distribution of microglia in the normal adult human central nervous system differs by up to one order of magnitude
Abstract
Although microglia are considered to be a sensitive sensor for pathological processes in the central nervous system, there are only a few studies about the distribution and density of microglia in the normal human brain. Therefore, a study of local density of microglial cells was conducted by investigating 20 normal human brains with no clinical neurological symptoms or diseases and no neuropathological alterations. Microglial cells were visualized by immunolabeling of proteins which are known to be expressed either constitutively or facultatively, such as CD68, major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II), leukocyte common antigen (LCA), leukocyte chemotactic factor (LCF), macrophage inhibitory factor-related protein (MRP) 8, MRP14, CD4 and allograft-inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1). CD68, MHC-II and AIF-1 showed the highest densities with significant regional differences ranging from 0.5% to 16.6% of all cells in the brain parenchyma with significantly more microglia in white than in gray matter. LCF and LCA showed a similar pattern of distribution as the proteins described above, but with lower percentages of microglial cells. CD4 was not found in the brain parenchyma. We conclude that CD68, MHC-II and AIF-1 define the main microglial cell population, whereas LCF and LCA are expressed by a subpopulation of microglial cells. The brains showed no or a negligible vascular expression of MRP8 and MRP14. Information about the local microglia density in the normal human brain can serve as a reference for the evaluation of pathological microglial responses.
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Microglia comprise 0.5-16.6% of the total cell population in the adult brain and spinal cord, depending on anatomical region, sex, and stage of development.
“Microglia comprise 0.5–16.6% of the total cell population in the adult brain and spinal cord, depending on the anatomical region, sex, and stage of development, among other variables [307,308].”
From Revisiting the Pathogenesis of X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (2025) · cites this paper as [307]
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- Authors
- Mittelbronn, M., Dietz, K., Schluesener, H. J., & Meyermann, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Tübingen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Meyermann, R.
- Venue
- Acta Neuropathologica
- Published
- 2001-03
- Volume
- 101
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 249-255
- ISSN
- 0001-6322 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-0533
- OpenAlex
- W175813982
- Cited by
- 482
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 2.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Acta Neuropathologica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Keywords
- microglia, microglial density, regional distribution, normal human brain, CD68, MHC class II, CD45, S100A8, S100A9, allograft inflammatory factor-1, gray and white matter, microglial subpopulations, brain parenchyma
- MeSH terms
- CD68 Molecule, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antigens, Differentiation, Brain, Calcium-Binding Proteins, DNA-Binding Proteins, Female, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Major Histocompatibility Complex, Male, Microfilament Proteins, Middle Aged, S100 Proteins, Reference Values, Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic, Antigens, CD, CD4 Antigens, Leukocyte Common Antigens, Microglia, Interleukin-16, Calgranulin A, Calgranulin B
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