Microglia-mediated central nervous system (CNS) inflammation is one of the key features of various neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. In the last few years, a number of studies have investigated the link between neurodegenerative diseases and CNS glial cells, in particular microglia. Microglial cells are the main resident immune cells and comprise approximately 10–15% of all CNS cells. Microglia at rest regulates CNS homeostasis via phagocytic activity, by removing pathogens and cell detritus. “Resting” microglia cells transform into an activated form and produce inflammatory mediators, thus protecting neurons and providing defense against invading pathogens. Excessive inflammation leads to neuronal damage and neurodegenerative diseases. Various microglial reactions at different stages of the disease can open up new directions for treatment interventions and modification of the inflammatory activity. This review focuses on the potential role of microglia and the dynamic M1/M2 phenotype changes that are critically linked to certain neurodegenerative diseases.

小胶质细胞介导的中枢神经系统（CNS）炎症是各种神经退行性疾病（包括帕金森氏症和阿尔茨海默氏病）的关键特征之一。在最近几年中，许多研究调查了神经退行性疾病与中枢神经系统神经胶质细胞，特别是小胶质细胞之间的联系。小胶质细胞是主要的驻留免疫细胞，约占所有CNS细胞的10–15％。静止的小胶质细胞通过去除病原体和细胞碎屑，通过吞噬活动调节中枢神经系统稳态。“静息”的小胶质细胞转化为活化形式并产生炎性介质，从而保护神经元并提供对入侵病原体的防御作用。过度炎症会导致神经元损伤和神经退行性疾病。在疾病的不同阶段，各种小胶质细胞反应可以为治疗干预和改变炎症活性开辟新的方向。这篇综述集中在小胶质细胞和动态M1 / M2表型变化的潜在作用，这些变化与某些神经退行性疾病至关重要。