Am J Physiol Cell Physiol Ad Instruments
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 275: C327-C342, 1998;
0363-6143/98 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Eder, C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Eder, C.
Vol. 275, Issue 2, C327-C342, August 1998

Ion channels in microglia (brain macrophages)

Claudia Eder

Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, Humboldt University, D-10117 Berlin, Germany

Microglia are immunocompetent cells in the brain that have many similarities with macrophages of peripheral tissues. In normal adult brain, microglial cells are in a resting state, but they become activated during inflammation of the central nervous system, after neuronal injury, and in several neurological diseases. Patch-clamp studies of microglial cells in cell culture and in tissue slices demonstrate that microglia express a wide variety of ion channels. Six different types of K+ channels have been identified in microglia, namely, inward rectifier, delayed rectifier, HERG-like, G protein-activated, as well as voltage-dependent and voltage-independent Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Moreover, microglia express H+ channels, Na+ channels, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, Ca2+-release activated Ca2+ channels, and voltage-dependent and voltage-independent Cl- channels. With respect to their kinetic and pharmacological properties, most microglial ion channels closely resemble ion channels characterized in other macrophage preparations. Expression patterns of ion channels in microglia depend on the functional state of the cells. Microglial ion channels can be modulated by exposure to lipopolysaccharide or various cytokines, by activation of protein kinase C or G proteins, by factors released from astrocytes, by changes in the concentration of internal free Ca2+, and by variations of the internal or external pH. There is evidence suggesting that ion channels in microglia are involved in maintaining the membrane potential and are also involved in proliferation, ramification, and the respiratory burst. Further possible functional roles of microglial ion channels are discussed.

voltage- and calcium-activated potassium channels; proton current; fast-inactivating sodium current; calcium channels; chloride conductances


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
A. Beck, R. Penner, and A. Fleig
Lipopolysaccharide-induced down-regulation of Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ currents (ICRAC) but not Ca2+-activated TRPM4-like currents (ICAN) in cultured mouse microglial cells
J. Physiol., January 15, 2008; 586(2): 427 - 439.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeuroscientistHome page
C. Beeton and K. G. Chandy
Potassium Channels, Memory T Cells, and Multiple Sclerosis
Neuroscientist, December 1, 2005; 11(6): 550 - 562.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Physiol. Rev.Home page
T. E. Decoursey
Voltage-Gated Proton Channels and Other Proton Transfer Pathways
Physiol Rev, April 1, 2003; 83(2): 475 - 579.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Pharmacol. Rev.Home page
G. Lee, S. Dallas, M. Hong, and R. Bendayan
Drug Transporters in the Central Nervous System: Brain Barriers and Brain Parenchyma Considerations
Pharmacol. Rev., December 1, 2001; 53(4): 569 - 596.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol.Home page
R. Khanna, L. Roy, X. Zhu, and L. C. Schlichter
K+ channels and the microglial respiratory burst
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, April 1, 2001; 280(4): C796 - C806.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
H. Morihata, F. Nakamura, T. Tsutada, and M. Kuno
Potentiation of a Voltage-Gated Proton Current in Acidosis-Induced Swelling of Rat Microglia
J. Neurosci., October 1, 2000; 20(19): 7220 - 7227.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol.Home page
T. Schilling, F. N. Quandt, V. V. Cherny, W. Zhou, U. Heinemann, T. E. Decoursey, and C. Eder
Upregulation of Kv1.3 K+ channels in microglia deactivated by TGF-beta
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, October 1, 2000; 279(4): C1123 - C1134.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
S. A. Kotecha and L. C. Schlichter
A Kv1.5 to Kv1.3 Switch in Endogenous Hippocampal Microglia and a Role in Proliferation
J. Neurosci., December 15, 1999; 19(24): 10680 - 10693.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
J. V. Steidl and A. J. Yool
Differential Sensitivity of Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels Kv1.5 and Kv1.2 to Acidic pH and Molecular Identification of pH Sensor
Mol. Pharmacol., May 1, 1999; 55(5): 812 - 820.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online