The executioners sing a new song: killer caspases activate microglia
Författare
Summary, in English
Activation of microglia and inflammation-mediated neurotoxicity are suggested to have key roles in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders. We recently published an article in Nature revealing an unexpected role for executioner caspases in the microglia activation process. We showed that caspases 8 and 3/7, commonly known to have executioner roles for apoptosis, can promote microglia activation in the absence of death. We found these caspases to be activated in microglia of PD and AD subjects. Inhibition of this signaling pathway hindered microglia activation and importantly reduced neurotoxicity in cell and animal models of disease. Here we review evidence suggesting that microglia can have a key role in the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders. We discuss possible underlying mechanisms regulating their activation and neurotoxic effect. We focus on the provocative hypothesis that caspase inhibition can be neuroprotective by targeting the microglia rather than the neurons themselves. Cell Death and Differentiation (2011) 18, 1679-1691; doi: 10.1038/cdd.2011.107; published online 12 August 2011
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2011
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
1679-1691
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Cell Death and Differentiation
Volym
18
Issue
11
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Nature Publishing Group
Ämne
- Neurosciences
Nyckelord
- microglia
- caspases
- neurodegenerative disorders
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1350-9047