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Brain macrophages: evaluation of microglia and their functions
Thomas WE.. Brain research. Brain research reviews, 1992-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
There is now evidence approaching, if not having already surpassed, overwhelming in support of microglial cells as macrophages. Consistent with this cellular identity, they appear to arise from monocytes in developing brain where amoeboid microglia function in removing cell death-associated debris and in regulating gliogenesis. In normal adult tissue, ramified microglial cells with down-regulated macrophage functional properties may serve a constitutive role in cleansing the extracellular fluid.
Key findings
- Consistent with this cellular identity, they appear to arise from monocytes in developing brain where amoeboid microglia function in removing cell death-associated debris and in regulating gliogenesis.
- In normal adult tissue, ramified microglial cells with down-regulated macrophage functional properties may serve a constitutive role in cleansing the extracellular fluid.
- Under all conditions of brain injury, microglia appear to activate and convert into active macrophages.
- Activated and reactive microglia participate in inflammation, removal of cellular debris and wound-healing, the latter through regulation of gliosis in scar formation and a potential contribution to neural regeneration and neovascularization.
Why it matters
This review presents evidence that microglial cells are macrophages, arising from monocytes in the developing brain and becoming activated macrophages after brain injury. It reports no treatment, cure or prevention result for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 41 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 43 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Brain research. Brain research reviews) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Brain Research Reviews: journal h-index 267 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1992 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 445 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.4 citations a year over 36 year(s) since 1992 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 18.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The Ohio State University: institution h-index 1,378 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 1638276) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 41 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 41 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 43 out of 100. |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Thomas, W. E. (1992). Brain macrophages: evaluation of microglia and their functions. Brain research. Brain research reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0173(92)90007-9
Vancouver
Thomas WE. Brain macrophages: evaluation of microglia and their functions. Brain research. Brain research reviews. 1992. doi:10.1016/0165-0173(92)90007-9. PMID: 1638276.
BibTeX
@article{thomas1992-1638276,
author = {Thomas, W. E.},
title = {{Brain macrophages: evaluation of microglia and their functions}},
journal = {Brain research. Brain research reviews},
year = {1992},
doi = {10.1016/0165-0173(92)90007-9},
pmid = {1638276},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0173(92)90007-9}
}
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