Layer V Cortical Neurons Require Microglial Support for Survival During Postnatal Development

Overview

Journal Nat Neurosci

Date 2013 Mar 26

PMID 23525041

Citations 406

Authors

Masaki Ueno

Yuki Fujita

Tatsuhide Tanaka

Yuka Nakamura

Junichi Kikuta

Masaru Ishii

Toshihide Yamashita

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Neurons require trophic support during neural circuit formation; however, how the cellular milieu contributes to neuronal survival remains unclear. We found that layer V cortical neurons require support from microglia for survival during postnatal development. Specifically, we found that microglia accumulated close to the subcerebral and callosal projection axons in the postnatal brain. Inactivation of microglia by minocycline treatment or transient ablation of microglia in CD11b-DTR transgenic mice led to increased apoptosis, specifically in layer V subcerebral and callosal projection neurons. CX3CR1 in microglia was required for the survival of layer V neurons. Microglia consistently promoted the survival of cortical neurons in vitro. In addition, we identified microglia-derived IGF1 as a trophic factor that maintained neuronal survival. Our results highlight a neuron-glia interaction that is indispensable for network formation during a specific period in the developing brain.

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