Cited by 1,215Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsImmune Response and InflammationInflammasome and immune disorders

Microglia initiate central nervous system innate and adaptive immune responses through multiple TLRs

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Olson, Julie K, Miller, Stephen D·2004·The Journal of Immunology

Abstract

Microglia are the resident macrophage-like population in the CNS. Microglia remain quiescent until injury or infection activates the cells to perform effector inflammatory and APC functions. Our previous studies have shown that microglia infected with a neurotropic strain of Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus secreted innate immune cytokines and up-regulated costimulatory molecules and MHC class II, enabling the cells to present viral and myelin Ags to CD4+ T cells. Recently, TLRs have been shown to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and initiate innate immune responses upon interaction with infectious agents. We examined TLR expression on brain microglia and their functional responses upon stimulation with various TLR agonists. We report that mouse microglia express mRNA for all of the recently identified TLRs, TLR1–9, used for recognition of bacterial and viral molecular patterns. Furthermore, stimulation of quiescent microglia with various TLR agonists, including LPS (TLR4), peptidoglycan (TLR2), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (TLR3), CpG DNA (TLR9), and infection with viable Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus, activated the cells to up-regulate unique patterns of innate and effector immune cytokines and chemokines at the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, TLR stimulation activated up-regulation of MHC class II and costimulatory molecules, enabling the microglia to efficiently present myelin Ags to CD4+ T cells. Thus, microglia appear to be a unique and important component of both the innate and adaptive immune response, providing the CNS with a means to rapidly and efficiently respond to a wide variety of pathogens.

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Crossref · 10.4049/jimmunol.173.6.3916

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  • Microglia are the chief resident immune cells of the retina and are capable of inducing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression through TLR9- and TLR2-mediated responses.

    “Microglia are the chief resident immune cells of the retina and are capable of inducing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression through TLR9- and TLR2-mediated responses,41 which have been demonstrated to detect AAV genomes and capsids, respectively.42, 43, 44”

    From Characterizing the cellular immune response to subretinal AAV gene therapy in the murine retina (2021) · cites this paper as [41]

    The Abstract and Discussion describe brain microglia as resident CNS immune cells and report that stimulation through TLR2 and TLR9 increases inflammatory cytokine expression. They do not establish that microglia are the chief resident immune cells of the retina or test these responses in retinal microglia. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  1. Federoff, S. 1995. Development of microglia. In Neuroglia. H. Kettenmann and B. R. Ransom, eds. Oxford University Press, Oxford, p. 162.

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Authors
Olson, J. K., & Miller, S. D.
Affiliations
Northwestern University (US)
Venue
The Journal of Immunology
Published
2004-09
Volume
173
Issue
6
Pages
3916-3924
ISSN
  • 0022-1767 (ISSN-L)
  • 1550-6606
OpenAlex
W2124667416
Cited by
1,215
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 61 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 89 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 51 · 2016: 69 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 64 · 2013: 74 · 2012: 69
FWCI
29.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Multiple Sclerosis Society
  • National Institutes of Health
  • U.S. Public Health Service
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-40460, NS30871, NS-23349, R01NS040460, P01NS023349, R01NS030871)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Inflammasome and immune disorders
Keywords
microglia, Toll-like receptors, Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, MHC class II, costimulatory molecules, CD4+ T cells, TLR agonists, LPS, peptidoglycan, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, CpG DNA, chemokines, cytokines, central nervous system infection
MeSH terms
Animals, Antigen-Presenting Cells, Antigens, Surface, Cells, Cultured, Central Nervous System, DNA-Binding Proteins, Immunity, Innate, Membrane Glycoproteins, Receptors, Cell Surface, RNA, Messenger, Cytokines, Microglia, Theilovirus, Antigen Presentation, Chemokines, Toll-Like Receptors, Toll-Like Receptor 1, Toll-Like Receptor 2, Toll-Like Receptor 3, Toll-Like Receptor 4, Toll-Like Receptor 7, Toll-Like Receptor 6, Toll-Like Receptor 9, Mice

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