Figure 1.

Possible mechanisms underlying epigenetic modulation of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is a prominent feature of neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia exert neuroprotective and deleterious effects in neurodegenerative diseases that may be affected by their distinct phenotypes. Epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs are closely associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Dysregulated epigenetics on microglia-related genes may affect the function of microglia, resulting in neuroinflammation and neuronal damage, and exacerbating the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Epigenetic modulation of microglia hyperactivation or their function and phenotypes, and consequently attenuating inflammatory responses and neuronal damage, may be a potential strategy to reverse neurodegenerative diseases.