Cited by 323Autophagy in Disease and TherapyNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms

Autophagy and Microglia: Novel Partners in Neurodegeneration and Aging

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Plaza-Zabala, Ainhoa, Sierra-Torre, Virginia, Sierra, Amanda·2017·International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Abstract

Autophagy is emerging as a core regulator of Central Nervous System (CNS) aging and neurodegeneration. In the brain, it has mostly been studied in neurons, where the delivery of toxic molecules and organelles to the lysosome by autophagy is crucial for neuronal health and survival. However, we propose that the (dys)regulation of autophagy in microglia also affects innate immune functions such as phagocytosis and inflammation, which in turn contribute to the pathophysiology of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we first describe the basic concepts of autophagy and its regulation, discuss key aspects for its accurate monitoring at the experimental level, and summarize the evidence linking autophagy impairment to CNS senescence and disease. We focus on acute, chronic, and autoimmunity-mediated neurodegeneration, including ischemia/stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases, and multiple sclerosis. Next, we describe the actual and potential impact of autophagy on microglial phagocytic and inflammatory function. Thus, we provide evidence of how autophagy may affect microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, amyloid-β, synaptic material, and myelin debris, and regulate the progression of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. We also discuss data linking autophagy to the regulation of the microglial inflammatory phenotype, which is known to contribute to age-related brain dysfunction. Overall, we update the current knowledge of autophagy and microglia, and highlight as yet unexplored mechanisms whereby autophagy in microglia may contribute to CNS disease and senescence.

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Crossref · 10.3390/ijms18030598

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  • Autophagy and phagocytosis share key morphological and mechanistic features.

    “Autophagy and phagocytosis share key morphological and mechanistic features [428].”
  • Both autophagy and phagocytosis rely on vesicular structures to deliver contents to lysosomes for degradation.

    “For instance, both pathways rely on vesicular structures to deliver contents to lysosomes for degradation.”
  • Microglia actively clear apoptotic cells, myelin and synaptic debris, axonal fragments and protein deposits from the CNS through phagocytosis.

    “Microglia actively clear apoptotic cells, myelin and synaptic debris, axonal fragments and protein deposits from the CNS through phagocytosis [428–430].”

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Authors
Plaza-Zabala, A., Sierra-Torre, V., & Sierra, A.
Affiliations
  • Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, 48170 Zamudio, Spain
  • Ikerbasque (ES)
Corresponding author
Sierra, Amanda
Venue
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2017-03-09
Volume
18
Issue
3
Pages
598
ISSN
1422-0067 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2594094135
Cited by
323
References
169
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 8
FWCI
4.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Molecular Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (BFU2015-66689, RYC-2013-12817)
  • BBVA Foundation Grant for Researchers and Cultural Creators
  • Basque Government (PI_2016_1_0011)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
Keywords
autophagy, microglia, neurodegeneration, brain aging, microglial phagocytosis, neuroinflammation, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyloid-beta clearance, myelin debris, autophagy regulation, autophagy monitoring
MeSH terms
Aging, Animals, Autophagy, Central Nervous System, Humans, Microglia, Neurodegenerative Diseases

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