The antigen presentation to lymphocytes in brain occurs in two steps. Initially it happens at perivascular spaces by perivascular microglia/macrophage population and finally at the site of inflammation deep into brain parenchyma by the resident microglia. But recent evidence challanges the existing notion of involvement of distinct and different cells at these sites. Studies have shown that many of these microglial cells show dendritic cell phenotype in pathogenic and cytokine driven environment. Different subsets of the cell show wide range of myeloid lineage functions indicating a pre-differentiated status of the cell. Monocytic CD34(+)/B220(+) precursor cells have been transformed to microglial cells in vitro and transplantation of these cells show Iba-1 or F4/80 positivity with microglial phenotypes in vivo in adults. Even they can be converted into dendritic cell like forms. The interconvertability among macrophage-microglia-dendritic cells and final effector maturation according to the microenvironmental cues indicates existence of a pre-mature myeloid cell population concerned with antigen presentation and related functions in brain. With the substantial recent observation this article sketches the idea that brain APCs appearing as macrophage/microglia/DC like forms are derivatives of the same stock in response to their position and microenvironment. And also microglia is never any distinct cells, both in neonatal stage and adults.
Keywords: Dendritic Cells; Differentiation; Macrophage; Microglia; Mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS).