Abstract: Sepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE), characterized by brain dysfunction, is a common complication in
septic patients and seriously affects the prognosis and quality of life. Recent researches have discovered that microglia, as the immune cells in the central nervous system, can produce inflammatory transformation under septic condition and promote the development of cerebral inflammation and SAE. Targeting microglia may provide new ideas and directions for the treatment of SAE. In this paper, the characteristics of microglia were briefly described, and the relationship between microglia and SAE was expounded. The effects of microglia activation on the central nervous system were analyzed, the signaling pathway for microglia regulation was discussed, and its clinical application in the future was prospected.

Key words: sepsis, brain, microglia, inflammation, review