It has been reported that extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules regulate monocyte activation by binding with a 67 kDa nonintegrin laminin receptor (LR). As microgliosis is a pivotal factor in propelling the progress of chronic neurodegeneration in the brain, we hypothesized that LR may regulate the microgliosis and subsequent neurotoxicity. Using 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) -treated C57 mice primary mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures as an in vitro Parkinson's disease (PD) model, we observed that MPP+ treatment increased LR expression only in the mixed neuron-glia but not in microglia-enriched or microglia-depleted cultures, indicating that MPP+-induced increase of LR expression is associated with neuron-microglia interaction. Using confocal microscopic examination, we found that LR was localized in the microglia, which were F4/80 positive. Treatment with the antibody (Ab) against LR (LR-Ab) or YIGSR, a synthetic pentapeptide inhibitor for LR, significantly attenuated the MPP+-increased F4/80 immunoreactivity (24 h) and dopaminergic (DA) neurotoxicity. LR-Ab also attenuated MPP+-increased microglial phagocytotic activity (48 h) and the superoxide production (4 days). Further study demonstrated that exogenous laminin (1-10 microg/ml) treatment induced microglial activation and DA neurotoxicity, in a dose-dependent manner, which was partially attenuated by the LR-Ab. We concluded that by regulating cell-ECM interaction, LR plays important roles in mediating microgliosis and subsequent DA neurotoxicity. Laminin is a potential ligand for activating this LR receptor. This study also suggests that laminin/LR is a potential target for developing new therapeutic drugs against neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.