Benjamin A. Devlin, Dang M. Nguyen, Diogo Ribeiro, Gabriel Grullon, Madeline J. Clark, Amelie Finn, Alexis M. Ceasrine, Seneca Oxendine, Martha Deja, Ashka Shah, Shomik Ati, Anne Schaefer, Staci D. Bilbo
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Neuron-microglia interactions dictate the development of neuronal circuits in the brain. However, the factors that regulate these processes across development are largely unknown. Here, we found that interleukin-34 (IL-34), a neuron-derived cytokine, was upregulated in early development and maintained neuroprotective, mature microglia in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of mice. IL-34 expression increases in the second week of post-natal life and was primarily produced by excitatory neurons. Excitatory-neuron-specific deletion of IL-34 reduced microglia numbers and microglial TMEM119 expression and increased aberrant microglial phagocytosis of excitatory thalamocortical synapses in the ACC. Acute, low-dose blocking of IL-34 at post-natal day 15 similarly decreased microglial TMEM119 and aberrantly increased microglial phagocytosis of synapses. Viral overexpression of IL-34 induced TMEM119 expression and prevented appropriate microglial phagocytosis of synapses. These findings establish IL-34 as a key regulator of neuron-microglia crosstalk in post-natal brain development, controlling both microglial maturation and synapse engulfment.
期刊介绍:
Immunity is a publication that focuses on publishing significant advancements in research related to immunology. We encourage the submission of studies that offer groundbreaking immunological discoveries, whether at the molecular, cellular, or whole organism level. Topics of interest encompass a wide range, such as cancer, infectious diseases, neuroimmunology, autoimmune diseases, allergies, mucosal immunity, metabolic diseases, and homeostasis.