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. 2023 Jun 15;15:1201982. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1201982

FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 1

Microglial activation in neurodegeneration and neuroprotection. The diagram showcases the dual functions of microglia through M1 and M2 phenotypes. The M1 microglial phenotype promotes neuroinflammation through the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors, leading to neuronal damage. The related pathways involved in this process encompass Toll-like Receptors (TLRs), Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and the Janus Kinase/Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway. On the other hand, the M2 phenotype of microglia secretes anti-inflammatory factors, thereby providing neuroprotective effects. This aspect is mediated through various signaling pathways including Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPAR-γ), and the Notch pathway. Thus, the diagram delineates the dual role of microglia in neuronal health and disease, underlining the critical balance between the M1 and M2 states.