STATE OF THE ART: MICROGLIA ARE THE HOUSEKEEPERS OF NEURONAL CONNECTIONS (R-12019)

Microglia, the immune cells of the brain, are involved in a broad spectrum of processes which regulate homeostasis in the brain. Synaptic elimination involves the phagocytosis of weak synapses, which is essential to create and maintain the neuronal network. This process is strictly regulated to ensure the best efficiency of the intricate 'brain circuitry'. Disruption of synaptic elimination in the hippocampus gives rise to cognitive impairment. In the current project, I push forward the scaffolding protein as a new molecular key that controls microglial functions in the brain. It is known to be involved in the development of schizophrenia and other disorders characterized by cognitive deficits. The lab found that mutant mice for the molecule are cognitively impaired and that microglia highly express it. I expect that the protein controls microglial movement and phagocytosis through interaction with the cytoskeleton and that impairment of microglial expression of the protein contributes to cognitive symptoms. I will approach this problem starting from molecular control of cell movement up to electrophysiological and behavioral aspects after its impairment.

Keywords:cognitive impairment, Microglia, synaptic elimination

Disciplines:Developmental neuroscience