Microglia and immune signaling as architects of the brain.
- 1Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Abstract
The focus of studies on immune signaling in the CNS is often placed on the effects of inflammation and overactive immune mechanisms in the context of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative pathology. However, many immune regulatory pathways are also essential for healthy neuronal development and proper circuit refinement. Appropriate levels of cytokines and chemokines along with many other immune signaling and phagocytic pathways are required for normal neurodevelopment. The complement pathway and other "eat me" signals often studied in the context of inflammation and neurodevelopmental disorders, likewise play a crucial role in this process. Immune receptors and membrane-associated molecules regulate growth, differentiation and the refinement process to help establish a functional network. This review will focus on the roles that immune signaling mechanisms play in neurodevelopment of healthy animals.
Related
- Vessel-associated microglia contribute to blood-brain barrier disruption via a Notch-IL-1β axis in the diabetic brain
- CAR-engineered microglia harness phagocytosis to target brain tumor in organoid models
- Plasticity of human microglia and brain perivascular macrophages in aging and Alzheimer’s disease
- Benzene metabolite catechol promotes microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease via regulating NF-κB signaling
- Central microglia–adenosine-related signaling impairs bone–tendon interface repair via sympathetic ADRB2 activation
BibTeX
@article{kim2026microglia,
title = {{Microglia and immune signaling as architects of the brain.}},
author = {Anna Kim and Cynthia M Solek and Edward S Ruthazer},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular neuroscience},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fncel.2026.1936860},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910024},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Microglia and immune signaling as architects of the brain.
AU - Anna Kim
AU - Cynthia M Solek
AU - Edward S Ruthazer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in cellular neuroscience
DO - 10.3389/fncel.2026.1936860
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910024
AB - The focus of studies on immune signaling in the CNS is often placed on the effects of inflammation and overactive immune mechanisms in the context of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative pathology. However, many immune regulatory pathways are also essential for healthy neuronal development and proper circuit refinement. Appropriate levels of cytokines and chemokines along with many other immune signaling and phagocytic pathways are required for normal neurodevelopment. The complement pathway and other "eat me" signals often studied in the context of inflammation and neurodevelopmental disorders, likewise play a crucial role in this process. Immune receptors and membrane-associated molecules regulate growth, differentiation and the refinement process to help establish a functional network. This review will focus on the roles that immune signaling mechanisms play in neurodevelopment of healthy animals.
SN - 1662-5102
ER -