Do Microglial Sex Differences Contribute to Sex Differences in Neurodegenerative Diseases?. Issue 9 (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kodama, Lay; Gan, Li
• Is Part Of: Trends in molecular medicine. Volume 25:Issue 9(2019)
• Page Start: 741
• Page End: 749
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: microglia -- neurodegenerative disease -- sex differences; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Physiology, Pathological -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.05.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-4914

Abstract

Abstract : Sex differences have been clinically documented in numerous neurodegenerative diseases and yet the reasons for these differences are not well understood. Recent studies have found that microglia, the innate immune cells of the central nervous system, are a key cell type involved in neurodegenerative diseases. This cell type displays sex differences in their expression profiles and function. Could these sex differences in microglia explain the sex differences seen in neurodegenerative diseases? How can we further probe these differences to better understand disease mechanisms? In this Opinion, we highlight the recent evidence that microglia have sex differences, factors that contribute to these differences, and how these differences could shed new light on the pathophysiology of neurological diseases. Highlights: Recent studies have converged on the importance of neuroinflammatory processes in nonautoimmune neurodegenerative diseases, with a special focus on microglia. Many studies have demonstrated the heterogeneity of this cell type with a diverse number of functions in the brain. One emerging finding is the vast sex differences in the transcriptional and functional properties of microglia. These differences could be mediated by both sex hormone signaling and genes on the sex chromosomes. The prevalence, incidence, and disease progression of many neurological diseases vary by sex. Microglial sex differences could become maladaptive during disease states and underlie some of the sex differences in neurodegenerative diseases.