Triggering the brain's pathology sensor.
Microglia, the brain's intrinsic immune cells, rapidly sense brain injury and help clear cellular debris. Haynes et al. now show that P2Y12 receptors are critical for activating microglia and directing them to the site of injury.
Kettenmann
Helmut
H
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13082 Berlin, Germany. kettenmann@mdc-berlin.de
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000502:physiology*; D058925:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12
C548576:P2RY12 protein, human; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058925:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12