Grooming and growing with microglia.
Microglia mediate neuroprotection and neuropathogenesis but have not been directly associated with behavior. As gatekeepers of the brain's immune system, microglia protect the brain from pathogens but also contribute to inflammation, which may negatively affect neurons. A recent study demonstrates a role for Hoxb8-expressing microglia in modulating behavior, a finding that is interesting from both the pathology and developmental biology perspectives.
Department of Medical Biophysics, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5. joseph.antony@utoronto.ca
Joseph Mathew
JM
Antony
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006120:Grooming / Q000502:physiology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000235:genetics*
D015415:Biomarkers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C095822:Hoxb8 protein, mouse