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Table 1 Selected immune function markers expressed by human microglia

From: Immune phenotypes of microglia in human neurodegenerative disease: challenges to detecting microglial polarization in human brains

Designation (references)

M1

M2

AD brains

CD14 [15, 16]

++

–

Vessels and around plaques

CD16, CD32, CD64 [13, 38]

Uncertain

++

Increased on phagocytic microglia

CD45 [39, 40]

++

+

All microglia: increase in disease

CD11b [49]

Uncertain

Uncertain

Most microglia: increase in disease

CD68 [20]

Uncertain

Uncertain

Increased on plaque microglia

CD163 [22]

–

++

M2c: vessel-associated microglia

CD206 [34]

–

mRNA perivascular macrophages

 

CD209 [21]

–

++

M2a: MS lesion-associated microglia

CCL22 [21]

–

++

M2a: MS lesion-associated microglia

CD36 [18]

Uncertain

++

Phagocytic microglia

Cyclooxygenase-1 [43]

–

++

Plaque-associated microglia

TLR-2 [15]

++

+

Plaque-associated microglia

Ferritin [41]

++

Uncertain

Pathology-associated microglia

TREM2 [46]

–

+

Plaque-associated microglia

CD33 [45]

–

+

Increased expression in AD

CSF-1R [23]

Uncertain

Uncertain

Increased expression in AD

  1. There is uncertainty about the assignment of the protein markers to M1 or M2. These are based on the authors’ interpretation of different literature including data from in vitro experiments. – to ++, observed changes in microglia in brain samples. Assignment based on in vitro findings. M2 includes M2a, M2b and M2c
  2. AD Alzheimer’s disease, CSF-1R colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor, MS multiple sclerosis, TLR Toll-like receptor, TREM-2 triggering receptor expressed by myeloid cells-2