🧠 Microglia on the Frontline: Defenders of the CNS During Pathogen-Induced Injury🛡️
Microglia 🧠 are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), acting as vigilant sentinels that constantly monitor the brain and spinal cord for potential threats. When pathogens such as viruses 🦠, bacteria, fungi, or parasites invade the CNS, microglia are among the first responders. They recognize infectious agents through specialized receptors and rapidly become activated, changing their shape and function to combat the invading microorganisms. During pathogen infections, activated microglia play a protective role by engulfing pathogens through phagocytosis 🍽️, releasing antimicrobial molecules, and recruiting other immune cells to the site of infection. They also produce cytokines and chemokines 📡 that coordinate the immune response. However, this defensive reaction must be tightly regulated because excessive or prolonged activation can lead to harmful neuroinflammation 🔥, disrupting neuronal communication and damaging surrounding brain tissue. Interest...