The involvement of activated microglia in the cardiovascular complications of diabetes and heart failure

Microglia are resident immune cells that protect the central nervous system but also contribute to pathologies when inappropriately and/or chronically activated. I have shown that microglia are specifically activated in cardiovascular control centres in animals with diabetes and following myocardial infarction. I have demonstrated that activated microglia can elevate blood pressure and investigated the mechanisms of microglial activation. Microglia may contribute to cardiovascular disturbances in diabetes and myocardial infarction and inhibiting microglia may be beneficial to humans with these conditions.