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New insights into the role of thyroid hormone in the CNS: the microglial track

Molecular Psychiatry volume 7, pages 7–8 (2002)Cite this article

Mononuclear phagocytes called microglia, account for a significant part of the cells residing in the CNS; recent evidence indicates that thyroid hormone plays an important role in their development.

Microglial cell processes bearing markers specific for mononuclear phagocytes are observed throughout the CNS. They form a network that is responsive to even mild alterations of the tissue integrity. Injury to CNS parenchyma promotes rapid microglial activation characterized by morphological changes, increased expression of macrophage markers, and upregulation of functional capacities which vary according to the type of lesion, but typically include release of inflammatory mediators and phagocytosis of degenerating cells.1 Activated microglia appear in the course of various neurological diseases, and have also been reported in psychiatric illness such as schizophrenia.2,3 The activation of microglial cells is thought to have major pathophysiological consequences in infectious or neurodegenerative disorders with progressive decline of cognitive function, such as HIV dementia or Alzheimer's disease.4,5,6 Under normal conditions, the function of microglia is most obvious during development, where they eliminate apoptotic cell bodies generated by the regressive events of neurogenesis.7 However, the microglial cells might also play a role in the survival of developing neurons or the growth of neuronal processes.8

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by INSERM and grants from Ensemble Contre Le SIDA and from Electricité de France.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U 495, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, 47 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, Paris, Cedex 13 75651, France

    M Mallat, A Gervais & C Colin

  2. Departmento de Anatomia, Instituto de Ciências Biomedicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21–949–900, RJ, Brazil

    F R S Lima & V Moura Neto

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  1. M Mallat
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  2. F R S Lima
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Correspondence to M Mallat.

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Mallat, M., Lima, F., Gervais, A. et al. New insights into the role of thyroid hormone in the CNS: the microglial track. Mol Psychiatry 7, 7–8 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000988

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