Microglia are critical nervous system-specific immune cells serving as tissue-resident macrophages influencing brain development, maintenance of the neural environment, response to injury and repair. As influenced by their environment, microglia assume a diversity of phenotypes and retain the capability to shift functions to maintain tissue homeostasis. In comparison with peripheral macrophages, microglia demonstrate similar and unique features with regards to phenotype polarization, allowing for innate immunological functions. Microglia can be stimulated by LPS or IFN-γ to an M1 phenotype for expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines or by IL-4/IL-13 to an M2 phenotype for resolution of inflammation and tissue repair. Increasing evidence suggests a role of metabolic reprogramming in the regulation of the innate inflammatory response. Studies using peripheral immune cells demonstrate that polarization to an M1 phenotype is often accompanied by a shift in cells from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis for energy production. More recently, the link between polarization and mitochondrial energy metabolism has been considered in microglia. Under these conditions, energy demands would be associated with functional activities and cell survival and thus, may serve to influence the contribution of microglia activation to various neurodegenerative conditions. This review examines the polarization states of microglia and their relationship to mitochondrial metabolism. Additional supporting experimental data are provided to demonstrate mitochondrial metabolic shifts in primary microglia and the BV-2 microglia cell line induced under LPS (M1) and IL-4/IL-13 (M2) polarization. Abbreviations2-DG, 2-deoxy-glucose; AMPK, AMP-activated PK; BBB, blood-brain barrier; CD172 (SIRP1A), signal-regulatory protein; CD206, mannose receptor; EAE, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; FA, fatty acid; Fizz1, found in inflammatory zone 1; HK, hexokinase; iNOS, inducible NOS; MHC-II, major histocompatibility complex-II; NLRP, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing; NODs, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domains; PPP, pentose phosphate pathway; RNS, reactive nitrogen species; ROS, reactive oxygen species; SR, scavenger receptor; TCA, tricarboxylic acid cycle; TLR, Toll-like receptor. DOI:10.1111/bph.13139 www.brjpharmacol.org Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA Themed Section: Inflammation: maladies, models, mechanisms and molecules LINKED ARTICLESThis article is part of a themed section on Inflammation: maladies, models, mechanisms and molecules. IntroductionThe innate immune response of the body recruits a number of different cells to initiate a response to a novel stimulus such as a pathogen. These various cells of the immune system communicate and cooperate in a complex fashion to successfully complete their assigned tasks to clear the invading factor and return the system back to homeostasis. Such cells include ...

The sporadic nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) argues for an environmental link that may drive AD pathogenesis; however, the triggering factors and the period of their action are unknown. Recent studies in rodents have shown that exposure to lead (Pb) during brain development predetermined the expression and regulation of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its amyloidogenic ␤-amyloid (A␤) product in old age. Here, we report that the expression of AD-related genes [APP, BACE1 (␤-site APP cleaving enzyme 1)] as well as their transcriptional regulator (Sp1) were elevated in aged (23-year-old) monkeys exposed to Pb as infants. Furthermore, developmental exposure to Pb altered the levels, characteristics, and intracellular distribution of A␤ staining and amyloid plaques in the frontal association cortex. These latent effects were accompanied by a decrease in DNA methyltransferase activity and higher levels of oxidative damage to DNA, indicating that epigenetic imprinting in early life influenced the expression of AD-related genes and promoted DNA damage and pathogenesis. These data suggest that AD pathogenesis is influenced by early life exposures and argue for both an environmental trigger and a developmental origin of AD.

International audienceLocalized tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) elevation has diverse effects in brain injury often attributed to signaling via TNFp55 or TNFp75 receptors. Both dentate granule cells and CA pyramidal cells express TNF receptors (TNFR) at low levels in a punctate pattern. Using a model to induce selective death of dentate granule cells (trimethyltin; 2 mg/kg, i.p.), neuronal apoptosis [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin in situ end labeling, active caspase 3 (AC3)] was accompanied by amoeboid microglia and elevated TNFα mRNA levels. TNFp55R (55 kDa type-1 TNFR) and TNFp75R (75 kDa type-2 TNFR) immunoreactivity in AC3+ neurons displayed a pattern suggestive of receptor internalization and a temporal sequence of expression of TNFp55R followed by TNFp75R associated with the progression of apoptosis. A distinct ramified microglia response occurred around CA1 neurons and healthy dentate neurons that displayed an increase in the normal punctate pattern of TNFRs. Neuronal damage was decreased with i.c.v. injection of TNFα antibody and in TNFp55R−/−p75R−/− mice that showed higher constitutive mRNA levels for interleukin (IL-1α), macrophage inflammatory protein 1-α (MIP-1α), TNFα, transforming growth factor β1, Fas, and TNFRSF6-assoicated via death domain (FADD). TNFp75R−/− mice showed exacerbated injury and elevated mRNA levels for IL-1α, MIP-1α, and TNFα. In TNFp55R−/− mice, constitutive mRNA levels for TNFα, IL-6, caspase 8, FADD, and Fas-associated phosphatase were higher; IL-1α, MIP-1α, and transforming growth factor β1 lower. The mice displayed exacerbated neuronal death, delayed microglia response, increased FADD and TNFp75R mRNA levels, and co-expression of TNFp75R in AC3+ neurons. The data demonstrate TNFR-mediated apoptotic death of dentate granule neurons utilizing both TNFRs and suggest a TNFp75R-mediated apoptosis in the absence of normal TNFp55R activity

Microglia do not constitute a single, uniform cell population, but rather comprise cells with varied phenotypes, some which are beneficial and others that may require active regulatory control. Thus, gaining a better understanding of the heterogeneity of resident microglia responses will contribute to any interpretation regarding the impact of any such response in the brain. Microglia are the primary source of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) that can initiate various effects through the activation of membrane receptors. The TNF p55 receptor contains a death domain and activation normally leads to cellular apoptosis; however, under specific conditions, receptor activation can also lead to the activation of NFκB and contribute to cell survival. These divergent outcomes have been linked to receptor localization with receptor internalization leading to cell death and membrane localization supporting cell survival. A second TNF receptor, TNF p75 receptor, is normally linked to cell growth and survival, however, it can cooperate with the p55 receptor and contribute to cell death. Thus, while an elevation in TNFα in the brain is often considered an indicator of microglia activation and neuroinflammation, a number of factors come into play to determine the final outcome. Data is reviewed demonstrating that heterogeneity in morphological response of microglia and the expression of TNFα and TNF receptors are critical in identifying and characterizing neurotoxic events as they relate to neuroinflammation, neuronal damage and in stimulating neuroprotection.