Chromogranin A (CGA) belongs to a multifunctional protein family widely distributed in
secretory vesicles in neurons and neuroendocrine cells. Within the brain, CGA is localized in
neurodegenerative areas associated with reactive microglia. By using cultured rodent
microglia, we recently described that CGA induces an activated phenotype and the
generation of nitric oxide. These findings led us to examine whether CGA might affect
neuronal survival, expression of neurofilaments, and high affinity γ-aminobutyric acid uptake …

Conclusion Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a progressive loss of neurons
but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Several lines of evidence indicate
that neurons and microglial cells cooperate in the initiation and development of toxic
signaling pathways. Both cell-surface interactions and released molecules seem to be
involved in the process of neuronal degeneration. Our results indicate that CGA, which is up-
regulated in many neuropathologies, represents an endogeneous inflammatory molecule …