Microglia-orchestrated neuroinflammation and synaptic remodeling: roles of pro-inflammatory cytokines and receptors in neurodegeneration

Microglia, the innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), play essential roles in maintaining neural homeostasis through dynamic interactions with neurons and other brain structures. While their protective functions are well-established, recent studies have illuminated the detrimental consequences of sustained microglial activation in the context of neurodegeneration. In particular, overactivated microglia contribute to neuroinflammation and induce synaptic alterations through the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and engagement of specific receptors. These interactions disrupt synaptic structure and function, compromising connectivity, plasticity, and cognitive processes. Notably, neuronal synapses are primary targets of such inflammation-driven dysfunction, where prolonged exposure to cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and signaling via receptor systems including cluster of differentiation-200 (CD200)/CD200 receptor (CD200R), C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1)/CX3C receptor 1 (CX3CR1), colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1)/CSF1 receptor (CSF1R), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)/IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR), lead to impaired learning, excitotoxicity, and neurodegenerative progression. This review synthesizes emerging evidence on the mechanisms by which microglia-mediated immune responses regulate synaptic remodeling, emphasizing the roles of pro-inflammatory cytokines and their receptors in neurodegenerative disorders.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

• Publication date

  2025-11-10

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.3389/fncel.2025.1700692PMID 41292555PMCID 12641016
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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