Role of microglia in brain development after viral infection

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

Abstract

Microglia are immune cells in the brain that originate from the yolk sac and enter the developing brain before birth. They play critical roles in brain development by supporting neural precursor proliferation, synaptic pruning, and circuit formation. However, microglia are also vulnerable to environmental factors, such as infection and stress that may alter their phenotype and function. Viral infection activates microglia to produce inflammatory cytokines and anti-viral responses that protect the brain from damage. However, excessive or prolonged microglial activation impairs brain development and leads to long-term consequences such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Moreover, certain viruses may attack microglia and deploy them as “Trojan horses” to infiltrate the brain. In this brief review, we describe the function of microglia during brain development and examine their roles after infection through microglia-neural crosstalk. We also identify limitations for current studies and highlight future investigated questions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1340308
JournalFrontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Volume12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

Keywords

  • brain development
  • infection
  • innate immunity
  • microglia
  • neural progenitor cell
  • virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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