Nuclear receptors of NR1 and NR4 subfamilies in the regulation of microglial functions and pathology.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of preclinical and mechanistic literature
PubMed 34676987 · doi:10.1002/prp2.766
What was done
This narrative review summarizes research on the roles of the NR1 subfamily (including vitamin D receptor, retinoic acid receptors, PPARs, and LXRs) and NR4 subfamily (such as Nur77 and Nurr1) nuclear receptors in modulating microglial signaling, gene expression, and function in central nervous system disorders.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical findings. Qualitatively, activation of NR1 family receptors inhibits pro-inflammatory factors, increases anti-inflammatory cytokines, and (specifically via PPARγ and LXRs) increases microglial phagocytic activity. Agonists of NR1 and NR4 receptors are reported to alleviate pathology in animal models of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke.
Why it matters
It consolidates mechanistic evidence demonstrating how targeting specific microglial nuclear receptors can shift neuroinflammatory responses and enhance clearance functions in preclinical models of neurological disease.
Limits
The abstract describes a narrative review without systematic search criteria or human clinical data. All reported disease-modifying outcomes rely on animal models and in vitro mechanistic assays, which have uncertain clinical translation.
Cited by
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