小胶质细胞是定居于中枢神经系统的巨噬细胞,其激活介导的免疫炎症反应在多种神经系统疾病的病理进程中均扮演极其重要的角色。激活的小胶质细胞存在M1和M2两种形态、功能显著不同的极化类型。M1型细胞主要发挥杀菌和促炎作用,M2型细胞则具有抗炎和促进神经修复等功能。越来越多的证据表明,micro RNA(mi RNA)在不同极化状态的小胶质细胞中表达模式存在明显差异,mi RNA可以调控小胶质细胞的极化过程,并进一步影响神经疾病的病理进展。充分阐明疾病发病过程中小胶质细胞的极化亚型及其mi RNA调节机制,有助于深入认识小胶质细胞参与神经系统疾病发病的免疫病理机制,为寻找更加有效的神经疾病治疗新靶点提供理论依据。
Microglia are resident macrophages of central nervous system (CNS), and thus act as the crucial stuff of immune response and play very important roles in the progress of various CNS diseases. There are two different polarization statuses of activated microglia, M1 and M2 phenotypes. M1 polarized microglia are important for eradicating bacterial and promoting inflammation, whereas M2 cells are characterized by anti-inflammation and tissue remodeling. Recently, more and more evidence indicated that different polarized microglia showed diverse microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles. MiRNAs regulate microglia polarization, and thus affect the progress of CNS diseases. Fully exploring the polarization status of microglia during CNS diseases and the role of miRNAs in microglia polarization will be very helpful for a deep understanding of the roles of microglia in immunopathologic mech- anism of different CN S diseases and offer the theoretical foundation of searching more effective therapies for these disorders.