The Degenerating Substantia Nigra as a Susceptible Region for Gene Transfer-Mediated Inflammation

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the interactions between microglial activation and gene transfer. During neuronal death, microglial cells are activated to a “primed” state, where no proinflammatory cytokines are secreted. After receiving an additional (proinflammatory) stimulus, microglia activation changes into an exacerbated proinflammatory state that leads to increased neurodegeneration. Depending on variables such as type and dosage of vector used, inoculation of viral vectors might provide this second proinflammatory stimulus.