Developmental roles of microglia: A window into mechanisms of disease. Issue 1 (10th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anderson, Sarah R.; Vetter, Monica L.
• Other Names: Shcheglovitov, PhD Aleksandr guestEditor.; Rao, PhD Mahendra guestEditor.; Yoo, PhD Andrew guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Developmental dynamics. Volume 248:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2018-12-10
• Subjects: microglia -- CNS development -- aging -- disease -- neurodegeneration -- neurogenesis; Morphogenesis -- Periodicals; Anatomy -- Periodicals; Anatomie -- Périodiques; Biologie du développement -- Périodiques; 571.833
• DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-8388

Abstract

Abstract : Microglia are engineers of the central nervous system (CNS) both in health and disease. In addition to the canonical immunological roles of clearing damaging entities and limiting the spread of toxicity and death, microglia remodel the CNS throughout life. While they have been extensively studied in disease and injury, due to their highly variable functions, their precise role in these contexts still remains uncertain. Over the past decade, we have greatly expanded our understanding of microglial function, including their essential homeostatic roles during development. Here, we review these developmental roles, identify parallels in disease, and speculate whether developmental mechanisms re‐emerge in disease and injury. Developmental Dynamics 248:98–117, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Key Findings: Microglia are diverse cells with complex roles in development and disease. Microglia remodel the CNS during development by regulating proliferation, differentiation, neuronal migration, and neuronal integration into circuits. There are transcriptionally distinct subsets of microglia present in development and disease with overlapping gene expression. Developmental microglia have roles that parallel those found in disease. Microglia utilize some of the same molecular pathways in development and disease.