Cited by 783Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsTryptophan and brain disordersStress Responses and Cortisol

The Semantics of Microglia Activation: Neuroinflammation, Homeostasis, and Stress

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Woodburn, Samuel C., Bollinger, Justin L., Wohleb, Eric S.·2021·Journal of Neuroinflammation

Abstract

Microglia are emerging as critical regulators of neuronal function and behavior in nearly every area of neuroscience. Initial reports focused on classical immune functions of microglia in pathological contexts, however, immunological concepts from these studies have been applied to describe neuro-immune interactions in the absence of disease, injury, or infection. Indeed, terms such as 'microglia activation' or 'neuroinflammation' are used ubiquitously to describe changes in neuro-immune function in disparate contexts; particularly in stress research, where these terms prompt undue comparisons to pathological conditions. This creates a barrier for investigators new to neuro-immunology and ultimately hinders our understanding of stress effects on microglia. As more studies seek to understand the role of microglia in neurobiology and behavior, it is increasingly important to develop standard methods to study and define microglial phenotype and function. In this review, we summarize primary research on the role of microglia in pathological and physiological contexts. Further, we propose a framework to better describe changes in microglia1 phenotype and function in chronic stress. This approach will enable more precise characterization of microglia in different contexts, which should facilitate development of microglia-directed therapeutics in psychiatric and neurological disease.

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Authors
Woodburn, S. C., Bollinger, J. L., & Wohleb, E. S.
Affiliations
University of Cincinnati (US)
Corresponding author
Wohleb, Eric S.
Venue
Journal of Neuroinflammation
Published
2021-11-06
Volume
18
Issue
1
Pages
258-258
ISSN
1742-2094 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3211761706
Cited by
783
References
261
Citations by year
2026: 138 · 2025: 244 · 2024: 204 · 2023: 142 · 2022: 53 · 2021: 1
FWCI
11.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroinflammation (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • foundation for the national institutes of health (R21-MH120614, R01-MH-123545)
  • brain and behavior research foundation (NARSAD Young Investigator Grant, 25488)
  • college of medicine, university of cincinnati (University of Cincinnati Neurobiology Research Center Pilot Award)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
microglial activation, neuroinflammation, neuroimmune interactions, chronic stress, microglial phenotype, homeostasis, stress-related psychiatric disorders, terminology standardization
MeSH terms
Neuroinflammatory Diseases, Animals, Homeostasis, Humans, Terminology as Topic, Semantics, Stress, Physiological, Microglia

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