摘要
Lead(Pb^(2+)),a ubiquitous environmental toxicant,may widely affect the function of many organs or systems of human beings,especially the brain.Although lead is believed to transport into the brain through the blood-brain barrier(BBB)and cause direct neuronal injury,growing data have shown that lead exposure could induce brain dysfunction by triggering microglial and astroglial activation,pro-inflammatory cytokine production and inflammatory response,generation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress,and finally result in BBB dysfunction and neuronal damage.This review summarizes recent studies regarding microglial and astroglial reaction,neuroinflammation,and neuronal death in the brain following lead insult,suggesting that reactive glial cells may represent a potential target for manipulation of lead-induced neuroinflammatory injury of the brain.
