Synapse remodeling, compliments of the complement system.
A growing body of evidence indicates that some proteins known for their immune functions also have distinct nonimmune functions in the normal uninjured central nervous system. In this issue, Stevens et al. (2007) demonstrate an unexpected requirement for molecules of the complement cascade in the remodeling of synaptic connections in the developing visual system.
Fourgeaud
Lawrence
L
Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Boulanger
Lisa M
LM
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003167:Complement Activation; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000502:physiology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
D015922:Complement C1q; D003165:Complement System Proteins