The kiss of death.
The programmed cell death (PCD) of neurons is generally thought to be cell autonomous and not to require a death signal from other cells. A recent study by Marín-Teva et al., in this issue of Neuron, brings this theory into question and suggests that neighboring microglia actively participate in the PCD of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum.
Taylor
Anna R
AR
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Oppenheim
Ronald W
RW
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D008563:Membrane Lipids; D020169:Caspases