Synaptic pruning by microglia is necessary for normal brain development

Rosa C. Paolicelli; Giulia Bolasco; Francesca Pagani; Laura Maggi; Maria Scianni; Patrizia Panzanelli; Maurizio Giustetto; Tiago Alves Ferreira; Eva Guiducci; Laura Dumas; Davide Ragozzino; Cornelius T. Gross

doi:10.1126/science.1202529

Synaptic pruning by microglia is necessary for normal brain development

Rosa C. Paolicelli, Giulia Bolasco, Francesca Pagani, Laura Maggi, Maria Scianni, Patrizia Panzanelli, Maurizio Giustetto, Tiago Alves Ferreira, Eva Guiducci, Laura Dumas, Davide Ragozzino, Cornelius T. Gross

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Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Microglia are highly motile phagocytic cells that infiltrate and take up residence in the developing brain, where they are thought to provide a surveillance and scavenging function. However, although microglia have been shown to engulf and clear damaged cellular debris after brain insult, it remains less clear what role microglia play in the uninjured brain. Here, we show that microglia actively engulf synaptic material and play a major role in synaptic pruning during postnatal development in mice. These findings link microglia surveillance to synaptic maturation and suggest that deficits in microglia function may contribute to synaptic abnormalities seen in some neurodevelopmental disorders.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1456-1458
Number of pages	3
Journal	Science
Volume	333
Issue number	6048
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1202529
Publication status	Published - Sep 9 2011

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General

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Synaptic pruning by microglia is necessary for normal brain development. / Paolicelli, Rosa C.; Bolasco, Giulia; Pagani, Francesca; Maggi, Laura; Scianni, Maria; Panzanelli, Patrizia; Giustetto, Maurizio; Ferreira, Tiago Alves; Guiducci, Eva; Dumas, Laura; Ragozzino, Davide; Gross, Cornelius T.

In: Science, Vol. 333, No. 6048, 09.09.2011, p. 1456-1458.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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AU - Panzanelli, Patrizia

AU - Giustetto, Maurizio

AU - Ferreira, Tiago Alves

AU - Guiducci, Eva

AU - Dumas, Laura

AU - Ragozzino, Davide

AU - Gross, Cornelius T.

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