Modulators of microglia: a patent review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Microglia are highly dynamic immune cells that play a key role in the development, hemostasis and inflammatory response of the central nervous system. These cells could be a valid therapeutic target because of their involvement in the inflammatory scenario in many neuropathological diseases.

Area covered: Many attempts have aimed to act on microglial cells through different approaches, for instance as viral carriers to transfer genetic material, anti-inflammatory drugs to polarize and shift microglia from M1 toward an M2 phenotype, and stem cell therapy.

Expert opinion: The challenge remains to find ways to act selectively on this population in the inflammatory site. Original approaches are genetic targeting or pharmacological therapies that exploit some nanomaterials to deliver promising compounds. These results strongly encourage work aimed to modulate activated microglia, laying the base for treating many neurological diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Microglia
• patent
• inflammation
• spinal cord
• central nervous system

Article highlights

• Microglia are highly dynamic immune cells that play a role in the development, hemostasis and inflammatory response of the central nervous system.

• Many attempts have been made to act on microglia through different approaches able to polarize and shift them from M1 toward an M2 phenotype.

• The key point remains selective action on these cells in the inflammatory site.

• Nanomaterials could address this issue, serving as Trojan horses, then acting on the microglia.

• Several studies (papers and patents) confirm that microglial cells could be a key therapeutic target in the inflammatory scenario of many neuropathological diseases.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.