title: Modulation of microglial process convergence toward neuronal dendrites by extracellular calcium.
abstract: Extracellular calcium concentrations in the brain fluctuate during neuronal activities and may affect the behavior of brain cells. Microglia are highly dynamic immune cells of the brain. However, the effects of extracellular calcium concentrations on microglial dynamics have not been investigated. Here, we addressed this question in mouse brain slices and in vivo using two-photon microscopy. We serendipitously found that extracellular calcium reduction induced microglial processes to converge at distinct sites, a phenomenon we termed microglial process convergence (MPCs). Our studies revealed that MPCs target neuronal dendrites independent of neuronal action potential firing and is mediated by ATP release and microglial P2Y12 receptors. These results indicate that microglia monitor and interact with neurons during conditions of cerebral calcium reduction in the normal and diseased brain.
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854.
authors: Ukpong B
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1840-6925
authors: UB
authors: Eyo
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, Department of Anesthesia, the Fourth Military Medical University Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, China, 710032.
authors: Nan
authors: N
authors: Gu
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854.
authors: Srijisnu
authors: S
authors: De
authors: Department of Anesthesia, the Fourth Military Medical University Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, China, 710032.
authors: Hailong
authors: H
authors: Dong
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, and.
authors: Jason R
authors: JR
authors: Richardson
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China, 230032 lwu@dls.rutgers.edu.
authors: Long-Jun
authors: LJ
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011687:Purines / Q000378:metabolism; D058925:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011687:Purines; D058925:Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12; D002118:Calcium
keywords: P2Y12 receptor; calcium reduction; microglia; microglial process convergence; neuronal dendrites