In recent years the long-standing theory of microglia's properties for dual polarization towards a pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotype has been deeply challenged. Furthermore, the elucidation of microglia ontogenesis exposed intrinsic differences between microglia and peripheral myeloid cells, thereby further underscoring the need to re-evaluate microglia-specific activation behavior, especially within an inflamed central nervous system (CNS) environment. This review critically summarizes recent literature on the in vitro and in vivo response of murine microglia to the immune-modulatory cytokines interleukin 4 (IL4) and interleukin 13 (IL13), i.e. those driving the so-called anti-inflammatory phenotype. Here we highlight several pivotal factors that may influence experimental outcome and/or interpretation of in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating microglia's phenotypical and functional properties upon IL4/IL13 treatment. Finally, the current therapeutic relevance of IL4/IL13-induced microglia activation in both acute and chronic CNS disorders is discussed.

中文翻译：

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白细胞介素 4 和 13 启动后小胶质细胞效应器功能的神经保护调节：目前了解其作用方式的局限性

近年来，长期存在的关于小胶质细胞向促炎或抗炎表型双重极化的特性的理论受到了深刻挑战。此外，小胶质细胞个体发生的阐明暴露了小胶质细胞和外周髓细胞之间的内在差异，从而进一步强调了重新评估小胶质细胞特异性激活行为的必要性，尤其是在发炎的中枢神经系统 (CNS) 环境中。这篇综述批判性地总结了最近关于小鼠小胶质细胞对免疫调节细胞因子白介素 4 (IL4) 和白介素 13 (IL13) 的体外和体内反应的文献，即那些驱动所谓的抗炎表型的细胞因子。在这里，我们强调了几个可能影响实验结果和/或体外和体内研究解释的关键因素，这些研究评估了 IL4/IL13 治疗后小胶质细胞的表型和功能特性。最后，讨论了 IL4/IL13 诱导的小胶质细胞激活在急性和慢性中枢神经系统疾病中的当前治疗相关性。