Microglia are ubiquitous, macrophage like cells within the central nervous system (CNS) that play critical roles in supporting neuronal health and viability. They can also influence neuronal membrane properties and synaptic connectivity, positioning microglia as key cellular players in both physiological and pathological contexts. Microglia have generally been assumed to be equivalent throughout the CNS, but accumulating evidence indicates that their properties vary substantially across distinct CNS regions. In comparison to our understanding of neuronal diversity and its functional importance, our knowledge about causes and consequences of microglial regional heterogeneity is extremely limited. To fully understand how microglia influence the function of specific neuronal populations and shape heightened susceptibility of some neurons to damage and disease, greater focus on microglial heterogeneity is needed.
Keywords: cell density; cell morphology; cell phenotype; cell signaling; gene expression; glial-glial interactions; heterogeneity; injury responses; microglia; neuron-glial interactions.