Loss of ‘homeostatic’ microglia and patterns of their activation in active multiple sclerosis

Microglia and macrophages accumulate at the sites of active demyelination and neurodegeneration in the multiple sclerosis brain and are thought to play a central role in the disease process. We used recently described markers to characterize the origin and functional states of microglia/macrophages in acute, relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis. We found microglia activation in normal white matter of controls and that the degree of activation increased with age. This microglia activation was more pronounced in the normal-appearing white matter of patients in comparison to controls and increased with disease duration. In contrast to controls, the normal-appearing white matter of patients with multiple…

• NM
  National Multiple Sclerosis Society

  Award: 5092A1
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: R01NS088137