Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Microglial signatures and their role in health and disease

Oleg Butovsky, Howard L. Weiner

Nature reviews. Neuroscience · 2018

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Summary

This Nature Reviews Neuroscience article by Butovsky and Weiner synthesises contemporary understanding of microglial heterogeneity and functional diversity. The review examines how distinct microglial phenotypes—characterised by specific molecular and immunological signatures—contribute to both neuroprotective and pro-inflammatory states across health and disease. The paper appears to contextualise microglial biology as central to understanding neuroinflammation and potential therapeutic targets in neurological disorders.

Regional applicability

As a fundamental neuroscience review, findings have potential relevance to UK clinical and research contexts, particularly for understanding mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative and neuroimmune diseases. However, direct applicability to farming systems, soil health, or agricultural practices is limited unless linking microglial function to dietary or environmental factors affecting neuroinflammation.

Key measures

Microglial phenotypic markers, activation signatures, immunological profiles in health and disease states

Outcomes reported

This review synthesises characterisation of microglial activation states and phenotypic signatures in both health and disease contexts. The paper appears to examine how microglial heterogeneity and functional diversity relate to neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective processes.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Other / interdisciplinary
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
System type
Laboratory / in vitro
DOI
10.1038/s41583-018-0057-5
Catalogue ID
SNmoj7nvsf-gh1ov9

Topic tags

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