Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of Microglia in Health and Disease

Hana Yeh, Tsuneya Ikezu

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Microglia are the resident immune cells that maintain brain homeostasis and contribute to neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies of microglia at transcriptomic and epigenetic levels revealed specific molecular pathways that regulate microglia development, maturation, and reactive states. The transcription factor PU.1 plays a key role in regulating several microglial functions. Environmental factors such as microbiota, early life stress, and maternal immune activation can dysregulate PU.1 and innate immune response. This review discusses the epigenetic regulation of key transcriptional factors in human and murine microglia, highlighting their networks for shaping the microglial function. PU.1 and other microglia-specific transcriptional factors can be further studied to determine their therapeutic applications in neurologic disorders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)96-111
Number of pages16
JournalTrends in Molecular Medicine
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2019

Keywords

  • PU.1
  • microglia
  • microglia transcription
  • neurodegenerative disorders

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology

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