FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·December 14, 2020·5 min readAn Unexpected Role for the Brain’s Immune CellsMicroglia cells continuously survey the brain to help prevent sporadic seizures.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·October 16, 2020·3 min readStudy Explains the Process That Exacerbates Multiple SclerosisRecovery from multiple sclerosis-like symptoms in mice depends upon the ability for microglia to break down the remains of damaged cells.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·September 30, 2020·4 min readNovel Role of Microglia as Modulators of Neurons in the Brain Is DiscoveredResearchers have identified a bio-chemical circuit that supports neuron-microglia communication. When neurons are active, they release ATP. Microglia sense extracellular ATP and the compound draws the immune cell toward the neuron.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·September 25, 2020·5 min readA Genetic Variant That Protects Against Alzheimer’s Promotes Immune Cell FunctionsPLCG2-P522R, a genetic variant that protects against Alzheimer's disease, enhances key functions of immune cells.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·September 15, 2020·4 min readKey Role of Immune Cells in Brain Infection IdentifiedStudy identifies a specific type of immune cell that induces inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·September 14, 2020·4 min readImmune Cells Sculpt Circuits in the BrainMicroglia, immune cells that protect the brain from infection and inflammation, also appear to play a critical role in sculpting circuits in the developing brain.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·August 11, 2020·5 min readScientists Replace Malfunctioning ‘Vacuum Cleaner’ Cells Linked to Neurological DisordersResearchers have devised techniques that allowed them to successfully replace dysfunctional microglia.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·July 30, 2020·4 min readYour Brain Parasite Isn’t Making You Sick, Here’s WhyMicroglia keep the Toxoplasma gondii parasite in check in the brain. Microglia release an immune molecule that recruit immune cells from the blood to control the parasite.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·July 21, 2020·3 min readThe Immune System Facilitates Alcohol AddictionA new study reveals the role microglia plays in alcohol addiction, finding the immune cells alter the geometry of gray matter while under the influence of alcohol.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·July 6, 2020·6 min readTo Let Neurons Talk, Immune Cells Clear Paths Through Brain’s ‘Scaffolding’Dropping the level of the IL-33 immune molecule increased the number of synapses in the brain. In older mice, ramping up IL-33 helped push the number of new synapses toward a more youthful state.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·June 6, 2020·6 min readMicroglia in the olfactory bulb have a nose for protecting the brain from infectionMicroglia help limit infection to the olfactory bulb and protects neurons from damage that could occur as a result of viral infection.Read More
Brain CancerFeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 1, 2020·4 min readNew targets for childhood brain tumors identifiedNeurons and immune cells work together to promote tumor growth in neurofibromatosis type 1.Read More
