Journal
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
Volume 3, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00149
Keywords
microvesicles; microglial cells; IL-beta; neuronal activity; brain inflammation
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Funding
- Paola Viani and Martina Gabrielli (University of Milan)
- FISM [2010/R/39]
- Italian Ministry [2008XFMEA3, RS 2008 B45E11000030008]
- CARIELO [2008 3184]
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Microvesicles (MVs) are released from almost all cell brain types into the microenvironment and are emerging as a novel way of cell-to-cell communication. This review focuses on MVs discharged by microglial cells, the brain resident myeloid cells, which comprise similar to 10-12% of brain population. We summarize first evidence indicating that MV shedding is a process activated by the ATP receptor P2X(7) and that shed MVs represent a secretory pathway for the inflammatory cytokine IL-beta. We then discuss subsequent findings which clarify how IL-beta can be locally processed and released from MVs into the extracellular environment. In addition, we describe the current understanding about the mechanism of P2X(7)-dependent MV formation and membrane abscission, which, by involving sphingomyelinase activity and ceramide formation, may share similarities with exosome biogenesis. Finally we report our recent results which show that microglia-derived MVs can stimulate neuronal activity and participate to the propagation of inflammatory signals, and suggest new areas for future investigation.
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