Primer: Read about why we are captivated by microglia
Microglia are brain-resident immune cells. One of the many things that makes them special is that, under normal conditions, the brain and the spinal cord are closed off from the immune system. Thus, whereas the rest of our body has many innate and adaptive immune mechanisms for protection, microglia are the primary first responders and defense cells of the brain.
Explore our Lysosomal Biology-Related Projects
Although multiple cell types are equipped with the ability to perform phagocytosis in invertebrates, in vertebrates, this indispensable task is delegated to the professional phagocytes, including microglia and macrophages. Indeed, it has been shown that circulating monocytes, the progenitors of tissue-resident macrophages, have limited phagocytic capacity, thus indicating that the ability to phagocytose is acquired during development and through differentiation. We are fascinated by multiple open-ended questions in the field of phagocytosis.
Delve into our research on Microglia and Brain Disorders
As the primary defense, immune, and phagocytic cells in the brain, microglia govern multiple aspects of brain development, repair, and aging. In recent years, there has been an increasing appreciation of the contributions of microglia in neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and neuropsychiatric disorders. In particular, the aberrant activation and resolution of microglial responses have been linked to the pathology observed in sporadic or late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Although genome-wide association studies have revealed a number of genes potentially associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and enriched in microglia, large-scale functional analyses of these genes have not been performed to date.
