TSPO Finds NOX2 in Microglia for Redox Homeostasis

Tomás R Guilarte; Meredith K Loth; Sara R Guariglia

doi:10.1016/j.tips.2016.02.008

TSPO Finds NOX2 in Microglia for Redox Homeostasis

Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2016 May;37(5):334-343. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2016.02.008. Epub 2016 Apr 21.

Authors

Tomás R Guilarte¹, Meredith K Loth², Sara R Guariglia²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: trg2113@cumc.columbia.edu.
² Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

Abstract

During the past decade, translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO), previously named peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, has gained a great deal of attention based on its use as a clinical biomarker of neuroinflammation with therapeutic potential. However, there is a paucity of knowledge on the function(s) of TSPO in glial cells. Here, we identify a novel function of TSPO in microglia that is not associated with steroidogenesis. We propose that a TSPO interaction with NADPH oxidase (NOX2) links the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to the induction of an antioxidant response to maintain redox homeostasis. This line of investigation may provide a greater understanding of TSPO glial cell biology, and the knowledge gained may prove beneficial in devising therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: NADPH oxidase (NOX2); TSPO; microglia; peripheral benzodiazepine receptor; redox homeostasis.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

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