Microglia fuel the learning brain

Thomas Blank; Tobias Goldmann; Marco Prinz

doi:10.1016/j.it.2014.02.005

Microglia fuel the learning brain

Trends Immunol. 2014 Apr;35(4):139-40. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2014.02.005. Epub 2014 Mar 11.

Authors

Thomas Blank¹, Tobias Goldmann¹, Marco Prinz²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Neuropathology, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Straße 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
² Institute of Neuropathology, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Straße 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 24636251
DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2014.02.005

Abstract

Microglia, the brain resident macrophages, are first responders to any violation of central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis. A recent paper in Cell shows that the specific depletion of microglia causes deficits in learning-induced synaptic remodeling through paucity of the microglial neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain / cytology*
Brain / physiology*
Humans
Microglia / cytology*
Microglia / physiology*