小胶质细胞是中枢神经系统内的内源性免疫细胞,在中枢神经系统的固有免疫反应中扮演关键的角色,其主要作用是早期控制感染及激活适应性免疫系统细胞,以清除病原体.小胶质细胞引发的固有和适应性免疫反应包括前炎性因子的释放.虽然有效的免疫反应对于防御病原体的侵害是必须的,但中枢神经系统的炎症反应也会造成相应的组织损伤和神经退行性变化.Toll样受体是模式识别受体家族中一个主要成员,不仅介导固有免疫反应,也参与适应性免疫反应.通过Toll样受体,小胶质细胞能识别中枢神经系统内的病原体配体及宿主配体.虽然越来越多的证据表明Toll样受体信号通路调节中枢神经系统有益的保护反应,但其诱导的小胶质细胞活化及前炎症因子释放也介导多种中枢神经系统疾病病理过程中的神经毒性作用.因此,Toll样受体介导的小胶质细胞活化对中枢神经系统的最终作用,取决于二者之间微妙的平衡.本文主要评述中枢神经系统内Toll样受体信号通路调控的神经退行性作用.“,”Microglia are key players of the immune response in the central nervous system (CNS) and, being the resident innate immune cells, they are responsible for the early control of infections and for the recruitment of cells of the adaptive immune system required for pathogen clearance. The innate and adaptive immune responses triggered by microglia include the release of proinflammatory mediators. Although an efficient immune response is required for the defense against invading pathogens, an inflammatory response in the CNS may also lead to tissue injury and neurodegeneration. Engagement of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), a major family of pattern recognition receptors that mediate innate immunity but also link with the adaptive immune response, provides an important mechanism by which microglia are able to sense both pathogen-and host-derived ligands within the CNS. Although there is an increasing body of evidence that TLR signaling mediates beneficial effects in the CNS, it has become clear that TLR-induced activation of microglia and the release of proinfiammatory molecules are responsible for neurotoxic processes in the course of various CNS diseases. Thus, the functional outcome of TLR-induced activation of microglia in the CNS depends on a subtle balance between protective and harmful effects. This review focuses on the neurodegenerative effects of TLR