JANUARY 2020
VOLUME 1 // ISSUE 1
‘MICRO’ CELLS WITH MAJOR FUNCTIONS SCIENTISTS DISCOVER NEW PATHWAY FOR BRAIN IMMUNITY BY VA S I L I K I T E L L I O S
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hink of your brain like a bustling city. Neurons – the principle functional cells in the brain – act as roads, carrying important information from one area of town to the other. Like any complex city, the key to efficient transportation is road maintenance and infrastructure. This is where microglia, a supporting brain cell, comes into play. Like their name suggests, microglia are tiny cells – no larger than 10 microns in length, or the equivalent of one tenth the diameter of a grain of salt. These cells work behind the scenes to Fluorescent tagging of microglia (green) shows intricate ensure healthy neuronal function. processes interacting with neuronal structures (pink) and cell bodies (blue). Image supplied by the Lu Lab, Just like construction workers, unpublished. microglia function to modify neurons and clean up any harmful debris neighbouring cells, including neurons. like bacteria, dead cells or faulty neurons, “Neurons are regulated by glia, and by that might affect overall neuronal studying these supporting cells of the activity. brain, we can provide new insight into brain disorders we don’t fully Traditionally, brain research has focused understand,” said lead author Matthew on understanding how neurons work. Maksoud, a PhD Candidate in the This research is warranted, considering Graduate Program of Neuroscience at neurons are the basic functional unit of Western University. the nervous system, responsible for relaying critical signals throughout the Specifically, the research team led by Dr. brain that may allow one to think, move, Wei-Yang Lu proposed a new link and interact with their surrounding between nitric oxide – a well-known environment. However, neuroscientists mediator of brain inflammation – and are only just starting to understand how microglia’s ability to ‘clean up’ harmful microglia support and regulate neuronal bacteria in the brain. Microglia can function. A recent paper published this remove bacteria through a process called year by researchers at Western University phagocytosis, which results in these cells in the journal, Glia, presents a new destroying and engulfing unwanted signaling pathway in microglia that has debris within the brain. The authors the potential to affect the function of
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