Microglia and CNS Immune system

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and play a central role in neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and CNS homeostasis. They orchestrate immune responses, regulate synaptic pruning and repair, and respond rapidly to injury or infection.

At Redoxis, we offer specialized microglia and CNS immune assays designed to evaluate microglial activation, cytokine production, inflammasome signaling, and interactions with other CNS-relevant cell types. These assays provide highly translational insights relevant to Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, neuroinflammation, pain, and CNS-targeted therapies.

Our models use primary microglia-like cells, microglial cell lines, PBMC-derived microglia, or CNS-relevant co-cultures, all customizable to your research needs.

Characterizing activation states in response to stimuli or drug treatment

Microglial activation is a key hallmark of CNS inflammation. Our activation assays allow you to evaluate how microglia respond to classical (LPS), alternative (IL-4/IL-13), or disease-relevant stimuli.

What we measure

  • Activation markers (CD11b, HLA-DR, CD86, CD206)

  • Morphological changes characteristic of activation

  • Production of inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α)

  • Microglial responsiveness to modulatory compounds

Readouts

  • Flow cytometry

  • Luminex / ELISA cytokine profiling

  • Microscopy or live-cell imaging (optional)

  • Gene expression of microglial signature genes

Applications

  • Neuroinflammation studies

  • CNS disease model development

  • Mechanistic immunology

  • Evaluation of neuro-immunomodulatory compounds

Assessing inflammasome priming and activation cascades

Microglia are strong drivers of inflammasome-mediated inflammation, especially through NLRP3 pathways. These assays quantify priming and activation under controlled conditions.

Workflow

  1. LPS priming (NF-κB induction)

  2. ATP or Nigericin activation (inflammasome triggering)

  3. Measurement of IL-1β and IL-18 release

What we measure

  • IL-1β, IL-18 secretion

  • Caspase-1 activation (optional)

  • Gasdermin D cleavage (optional Western blot)

  • Reduction or enhancement of inflammasome responses by test compounds

Applications

  • Inflammasome inhibitor screening

  • Pain and neuroinflammation research

  • Mechanistic studies in NLRP3 pathways

  • Biomarker discovery

  • Defining microglial inflammatory states

    Microglia release a broad spectrum of cytokines, chemokines, and neuroimmune mediators. This component of our platform provides multiplexed, sensitive quantification to define microglial phenotypes.

    What we measure

    • IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10

    • CCL2, CXCL10, GM-CSF

    • Neuroinflammatory mediators specific to CNS injury

    Technologies

    • Luminex multiplexing

    • ELISA

    • FluoroSpot (optional single-cell readouts)

    Applications

    • Mechanism-of-action studies

    • Drug profiling in neuroinflammation

    • Biomarker development for CNS disease states

Translational model using donor-derived immune cells

Redoxis can generate microglia-like cells from CD14⁺ monocytes through cytokine-induced differentiation.

Workflow overview

  • CD14⁺ magnetic isolation

  • Adherence and cytokine-driven differentiation

  • Maturation and activation assay setup

Readouts

  • Cytokine secretion profiles

  • Activation markers

  • Morphology

  • Inflammasome responses

Applications

  • Human-relevant models for CNS drug development

  • Investigating donor-specific immune responses

Exploring complex cellular cross-talk in CNS inflammation
(Available via partners or custom model development)

These models simulate the multi-cellular environment of the CNS, enabling mechanistic evaluation of microglial roles in neurodegeneration or synaptic regulation.

What we evaluate

  • Microglial response to neuronal or astrocytic signals

  • Neurotoxicity induced by activated microglia

  • Cytokine-mediated cross-talk

  • Synaptic pruning signatures (optional)

Applications

  • Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS research

  • Neuroimmune interactions

  • Neurotoxicology screening

  • Cell-cell signaling pathway analysis

Technologies Used

  • Flow cytometry (activation markers, phenotype profiling)

  • Multiplex cytokine analysis (Luminex)

  • ELISA for targeted mediators

  • Live-cell imaging for morphological and dynamic changes

  • qPCR/ddPCR for microglia-associated genes

  • Western blot for inflammasome and signaling pathways

  • Cell health assays (viability, toxicity, proliferation)

Applications Across Drug Development

Microglia assays support decision-making in:

  • Neuroinflammation & neurodegeneration

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

  • Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease research

  • CNS-targeted immunomodulatory compounds

  • CNS toxicity screening

  • Mechanistic and pathway-focused research

  • Inflammasome-targeting drugs

Why Use Microglia Assays at Redoxis?

  • Strong expertise in immune-driven CNS mechanisms

  • Human-relevant models using primary monocytes or microglia

  • Integration with innate and adaptive immunology platforms

  • Highly customizable systems for complex mechanistic questions

  • Reproducible, well-controlled assay conditions

  • Access to advanced multiplexing and imaging technologies

Contact us

Inquiries? Questions?

Nina Woodworth

COO