NLRP3 inflammasome activation in primary murine microglia and monocyte-derived human microglia

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with unclear etiology. Neuroinflammation pathways, especially linked to NLRP3 inflammasome and Interferon-γ/Interferon-β signaling, is emerging to be an important factor in the upset and progression of the disease. Microglia are the resident immune cells in the brain, triggering neuroinflammatory response upon any detection of signs for brain lesions or nervous system dysfunction. A misregulated microglia response could lead to chronic activation and cause the loss of dopaminergic neurons which is typical of PD. From an evolutionary perspective, microglia appear as a novelty, lacking in Invertebrates, and show interspecific variability in their physiology. In the present study, we aim at studying neuroinflammatory response in both mouse and human microglia, even in association with the PD-linked mutation G2019S on LRRK2 gene.