Open AccessThe Role of Macrophages in Wallerian Degeneration
Author(s) -
Brück Wolfgang
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
brain pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.986
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1750-3639
pISSN - 1015-6305
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-3639.1997.tb01060.x
Subject(s) - wallerian degeneration , myelin , macrophage , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , neuroscience , pathogenesis , degeneration (medical) , biology , immunology , pathology , medicine , central nervous system , in vitro , biochemistry
The present review focuses on macrophage properties in Wallerian degeneration. The identification of hematogenous phagocytes, the involvement of cell surface receptors and soluble factors, the state of activation during myelin removal and the signals and factors leading to macrophage recruitment into degenerating peripheral nerves after nerve transection are reviewed. The main effector cells in Wallerian degeneration are hematogenous phagocytes. Resident macrophages and Schwann cells play a minor role in myelin removal. The macrophage complement receptor type 3 is the main surface receptor involved in myelin recognition and uptake. The signals leading to macrophage recruitment are heterogenous and not yet defined in detail. Degenerating myelin and axons are suggested to participate. The relevance of these findings for immune‐mediated demyelination are discussed since the definition of the role of macrophages might lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of demyelination.