Microglial reactivity and neuroinflammation-driven changes in motivational behaviors are regulated by Orai1 calcium channels - PubMed
3 days ago
- #calcium signaling
- #neuroinflammation
- #microglia
- Microglia are brain immune cells that switch between homeostatic and reactive states in response to injury or disease.
- Orai1 calcium channels play a critical role in regulating microglial plasticity and neuroinflammatory signaling.
- Deletion of Orai1 in microglia impairs their ability to adopt proinflammatory states and increases production of neuroprotective mediators.
- Orai1-deficient microglia show reduced expression of proinflammatory genes and increased anti-inflammatory mediators like BDNF, ARG1, and itaconate.
- In a CNS inflammation model, Orai1 deletion attenuated microglial and astrocyte reactivity and reduced proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6.
- Microglial Orai1 knockout mice were protected against LPS-induced motivational behavior deficits, such as impaired reward-seeking and escape behaviors.
- Orai1 channels link calcium signaling to neuroinflammation and inflammation-driven behavioral dysfunction.