Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and act as a cellular site of persistent cGAS-STING pathway stimulation, which promotes chronic neuroinflammation and can contribute to dopaminergic neuronal loss in Parkinson’s disease. They also participate in immune-metabolic regulation, with idh1 described as a critical pathogenic driver and a target of Kinsenoside in restoring microglial homeostasis. In cancer, microglia are key components of tumor-associated microglia/macrophages in glioma progression and therapeutic resistance, and they can be reprogrammed by glioblastoma derived extracellular vesicles to support tumor growth. Recent literature highlights microglial involvement in both neurodegeneration and glioma, including a 2026 Gene review on cGAS-STING in Parkinson’s disease (PMID:41500413), a 2026 Advanced Science study on IDH1-targeted metabolic rescue in Alzheimer’s disease (PMID:41980178), and a 2026 Acta Neuropathologica consensus statement on microglial and macrophage functions in gliomas (PMID:41991797).
Neurodegeneration
- Persistent cGAS-STING stimulation in microglia drives chronic neuroinflammation and is linked to dopaminergic neuronal loss in Parkinson’s disease. (PMID:41500413)
- A 2026 Gene review emphasized cGAS-STING activation in Parkinson’s disease and discussed disease-modifying therapeutic strategies centered on this pathway. (PMID:41500413)
- Microglial immune-metabolic dysregulation involving idh1 was investigated as a therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s disease. (PMID:41980178)
- Kinsenoside was reported to target IDH1 to restore microglial immune-metabolic homeostasis in Alzheimer’s disease therapy. (PMID:41980178)
Cancer
- Microglia are described as resident brain immune cells that contribute to tumor-associated microglia/macrophages in glioma progression and therapeutic resistance. (PMID:41991797)
- A 2026 Acta Neuropathologica consensus statement highlighted microglial and macrophage functions in gliomas, underscoring their role in the tumor microenvironment. (PMID:41991797)
- Glioblastoma-derived extracellular vesicles can reprogram microglia to support tumor progression. (PMID:41991797)