Immortalized Mouse Microglia (SIM-A9)

Stimulation of microglia can be done by adding 2.5 ng/ml LPS, or 20 μM β-amyloid fibrils (Aβ1-42); upon LPS and IL-4 stimulation, these cells are capable of switching between the pro-inflammatory microglial phenotype, M1, which is associated with elevated iNOS and COX-2 followed by IкB and tyrosine kinase pathways and the regenerative-supportive phenotype, M2, which is identified by an increased in Arg-1 expression, respectivelyMicroglia cells are resident macrophages of the brain and spinal cord and they act as the first and the main form of active immune defense in the nervous system. In addition to expressing microglial specific markers CD68 and Iba1, the spontaneously Immortalized Mouse Microglia (SIM-A9) retains responsiveness to exogenous inflammatory stimulation (LPS and β-amyloid) and the ability to secrete cytokines and nitric oxide as well as phagocytose biological debris. Upon LPS and IL-4 stimulation, these cells are capable of switching between the pro-inflammatory microglial phenotype, M1, which is associated with elevated iNOS and COX-2 followed by IкB and tyrosine kinase pathways and the regenerative-supportive phenotype, M2, which is identified by an increased in Arg-1 expression, respectively. SIM-A9 exhibits key attributes of primary microglia and is useful in characterization of stimulus-triggered microglial migration, proliferation and phagocytosis