Neuroinflammation in Huntington’s Disease: A Starring Role for Astro-cyte and Microglia

JULIETA SABA; FEDERICO LÓPEZ COUSELO; JULIETA BRUNO; LILA CARNIGLIA; DANIELA DURAND; MERCEDES LASAGA; CARLA CARUSO

CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY

BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTD

Año: 2022 vol. 20 p. 1116 - 1143

1570-159X

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. HD causes motor, cognitive, and behavioral dysfunction. Since no existing treatment affects the course of this disease, new treatments are needed. Inflammation is frequently observed in HD patients before symptom onset. Neuroinflammation, characterized by the presence of reactive microglia, astrocytes and inflammatory factors within the brain, is also detected early. However, in comparison to other neurodegenerative diseases, the role of neuroin-flammation in HD is much less known. Work has been dedicated to altered microglial and astrocytic functions in the context of HD, but less attention has been given to glial participation in neuroin-flammation. This review describes evidence of inflammation in HD patients and animal models. It also discusses recent knowledge on neuroinflammation in HD, highlighting astrocyte and microglia involvement in the disease and considering anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches.