title: Sublime microglia: expanding roles for the guardians of the CNS.
abstract: Recent findings challenge the concept that microglia solely function in disease states in the central nervous system (CNS). Rather than simply reacting to CNS injury, infection, or pathology, emerging lines of evidence indicate that microglia sculpt the structure of the CNS, refine neuronal circuitry and network connectivity, and contribute to plasticity. These physiological functions of microglia in the normal CNS begin during development and persist into maturity. Here, we develop a conceptual framework for functions of microglia beyond neuroinflammation and discuss the rich repertoire of signaling and communication motifs in microglia that are critical both in pathology and for the normal physiology of the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada. Electronic address: mike.salter@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Salter
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beggs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism