Sama Alshaheeb
Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine
Characterising activation of brain immune cells: microglia
The brain's specialised immune cells (microglia) play important roles in fighting
disease. These cells constantly monitor the brain, changing to an ‘activated’ state
(phenotype) when encountering infections or damaged tissue, then reverting to a
surveillance (unactivated) role. However, recent evidence suggests inappropriate
microglial activation can occur (reacting over-aggressively, or failing to lose their
activated status once the infection/damage is gone). Such inappropriate activation
may contribute to, or even cause, neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's
and Parkinson's diseases. Understanding how microglia change between
activation/surveillance phenotypes could help our understanding of how these
diseases occur and progress. To address this need, a cell culture model is being
developed to study how microglial phenotype switching occurs. Once established,
this model will allow testing of immunomodulatory therapies, designed to resolve
inappropriate microglial activation, and promote brain repair. It is hoped that
harnessing and redirecting the immune system will be more effective than
immunosuppressive therapies, which simply knockout the immune cells, leaving
patients vulnerable to other diseases.
Postgraduate Conference 2016
Page 15