Cited by 787Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchPain Mechanisms and Treatments

Neuronal ‘On’ and ‘Off’ signals control microglia

Biber, Knut, Neumann, Harald, Inoue, Kazuhide, Boddeke, Hendrikus W.G.M.·2007·Trends in Neurosciences

Abstract

Recent findings indicate that neurons are not merely passive targets of microglia but rather control microglial activity. The variety of different signals that neurons use to control microglia can be divided into two categories: 'Off' signals constitutively keep microglia in their resting state and antagonize proinflammatory activity. 'On' signals are inducible and include purines, chemokines, glutamate. They instruct microglia activation under pathological conditions towards a beneficial or detrimental phenotype. Various neuronal signaling molecules thus actively control microglia function, thereby contribute to the inflammatory milieu of the central nervous system. Thus, neurons should be envisaged as key immune modulators in the brain.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.tins.2007.08.007

Cites

73 of 73 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Microglia have the capacity to interact with synaptic elements in response to neurotransmitter release and/or sensory experience.

    “Previous work has demonstrated that microglia have the capacity to interact with synaptic elements in response to neurotransmitter release and/or sensory experience (Biber et al., 2007; Fontainhas et al., 2011; Nimmerjahn et al., 2005; Ransohoff and Perry, 2009; Tremblay et al., 2010a; Wake et al., 2009).”
  • Downregulation of CX3CR1 and CD200R may impair microglia return to homeostasis during AD.

    “The ability of microglia to return to homeostasis during AD may be impaired by the downregulation of the microglial receptors CX3CR1 and CD200R, which bind to neuronal ligands and act as immune checkpoints that maintain microglia homeostasis [30]”
  • Both soluble and surface CNS cues are factors in microglia maturation.

    “Overall, these results implicate both soluble and surface CNS cues as factors in microglia maturation (Biber et al., 2007)(Figure 5E,F).”

    From iPSC-derived human microglia-like cells to study neurological diseases (2017) · cites this paper as Biber et al., 2007

  • Microglia are strictly regulated by factors within the CNS microenvironment during homeostasis.

    “Microglia are strictly regulated by factors within the CNS microenvironment during homeostasis (Biber et al, 2007).”

    From Microglia Priming with Aging and Stress (2017) · cites this paper as Biber et al, 2007

  • Neuronal signals regulating microglial activation have been categorized as Off signals and On signals; Off signals are constitutively expressed signals (such as CX3CL1 and CD200) that maintain homeostatic functions of microglia, whereas On signals are inducible signals (such as ATP and TREM2 ligand) that trigger pro- and anti-inflammatory activation in microglia.

    “Neuronal signals regulating microglial activation have been categorized as Off signals and On signals.The former refer to constitutively expressed signals (such as, CX3CL1 and CD200) that maintain the homeostatic functions of microglia, whereas the latter refer to inducible signals (such as, ATP and TREM2 ligand) that trigger pro-and anti-inflammatory activation in microglia (Biber et al, 2007).”

    From Microglia Priming with Aging and Stress (2017) · cites this paper as Biber et al, 2007

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Authors
Biber, K., Neumann, H., Inoue, K., & Boddeke, H. W. G. M.
Affiliations
  • University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
  • University of Bonn (DE)
  • Kyushu University (JP)
Corresponding author
Biber, Knut
Venue
Trends in Neurosciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-11
Volume
30
Issue
11
Pages
596-602
ISSN
0166-2236 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2164191009
Cited by
787
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 82 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 59 · 2013: 50 · 2012: 40
FWCI
2.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Trends in Neurosciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
microglia, microglial activation, resting microglia, pro-inflammatory signaling, purines, chemokines, glutamate, neuroinflammation, central nervous system
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Communication, Models, Neurological, Neurons, Signal Transduction, Microglia, Chemokines

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