title: The Indispensable Roles of Microglia and Astrocytes during Brain Development.
abstract: Glia are essential for brain functioning during development and in the adult brain. Here, we discuss the various roles of both microglia and astrocytes, and their interactions during brain development. Although both cells are fundamentally different in origin and function, they often affect the same developmental processes such as neuro-/gliogenesis, angiogenesis, axonal outgrowth, synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning. Due to their important instructive roles in these processes, dysfunction of microglia or astrocytes during brain development could contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders and potentially even late-onset neuropathology. A better understanding of the origin, differentiation process and developmental functions of microglia and astrocytes will help to fully appreciate their role both in the developing as well as in the adult brain, in health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kitty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reemst
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis MIND Institute Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Noctor
authors.affiliation: Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lucassen
authors.affiliation: Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of AmsterdamAmsterdam, Netherlands; Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht, Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for NeuroscienceAmsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elly M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hol
keywords: astrocytes; brain development; glial cells; microglia; neurodevelopmental disorders