Table 1.
Immune properties of glia and neurons in the CNS
| Properties | Microglia | Astrocyte | Neuron |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Innate immunity |
|
|
|
| PRRs |
High [16-19] |
High [20] |
Low [21] |
| Phagocytic receptors |
High [16-19] |
Low [20] |
Unknown |
| Cytokine production |
|
|
|
| Pro-inflammatory |
Yes [16-19] |
Yes [10,20,22] |
Yes [8,23] |
| Anti-inflammatory |
Yes [16-19] |
Yes [10,20,22] |
Yes [23-28] |
|
Adaptive immunity |
|
|
|
| MHC classes |
I & II [17,29] Inducible |
I & II [22,29-31] Low/inducible |
I [32] Inducible |
| Co-stimulatory molecules |
Inducible [17,29] |
Low/inducible |
Unknown |
| Antigen presentation |
Yes [17,29] |
Controversial [29] |
Unknown |
| T-cell differentiation |
Th1, Th2 [17,29,33] |
Th2 [33,34], |
Largely unknown |
| |
|
Th1 [33,34], |
|
| |
|
Treg [35,36] |
|
|
Induction of apoptosis |
|
|
|
| T cells |
Yes [18,29,37-41] |
Yes [18,29,37-41] |
Yes [18,29,37-41] |
| Microglia | Yes [18,29,37-41] (self-limiting) | Yes [18,29,37-41] | Yes [18,29,37-41] |