Controversies and prospects about microglia in maternal immune activation models for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Activation of the maternal immune system during pregnancy is a well-established risk factor for neuropsychiatric disease in the offspring, yet, the underlying mechanisms leading to altered brain function remain largely undefined. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are key to adequate development of the central nervous system (CNS), and are prime candidates to mediate maternal immune activation (MIA)-induced brain abnormalities. As such, the effects of MIA on the immunological phenotype of microglia has been widely investigated. However, contradicting results due to differences in read-out and methodological approaches impede final conclusions on MIA-induced microglial alterations. The aim of this review is to critically discuss the evidence for an activated microglial phenotype upon MIA.
['Smolders|Silke|S|', 'Notter|Tina|T|', 'Smolders|Sophie M T|SMT|', 'Rigo|Jean-Michel|JM|', 'Brône|Bert|B|']
D000818:Animals D001522:Behavior, Animal D001921:Brain D004195:Disease Models, Animal D005260:Female D007107:Immune System D008070:Lipopolysaccharides D051379:Mice D017628:Microglia D009035:Mothers D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders D011070:Poly I-C D011247:Pregnancy D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects D051381:Rats
Microglia Maternal immune activation Neurodevelopmental disorders LPS Poly(I:C)