General Physiology and Pathophysiology of Microglia During Neuroinflammation

Microglia are the immunocompetent resident macrophages of the central nervous system and constitutes 15–20 % of the glial population. They provides the first line of defence against any disease or insult and display enormous structural and functional plasticity. Microglial cells are also well establised to play a very important role in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders. Microglial activation not only protect and repair the damaged tissue by eliminating the dying cell and assisting the restorative process but are also implicated in inducing neurodegeneration. This review provides a comprehensive account of development and various physiological states of microglia and their role in healthy and disease brain.