Microglial activation is an early response to brain ischemia and many other stressors.
Microglia continuously monitor and respond to changes in brain homeostasis and to specific
signaling molecules expressed or released by neighboring cells. These signaling
molecules, including ATP, glutamate, cytokines, prostaglandins, zinc, reactive oxygen
species, and HSP60, may induce microglial proliferation and migration to the sites of injury.
They also induce a nonspecific innate immune response that may exacerbate acute …