BMI SEMINAR // Rosa Paolicelli - Microglial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration

Microglia are the tissue-resident macrophages of the central nervous system and thus represent the first line of defense against pathogens or changes in the brain homeostasis.
In the last decade, several novel physiological functions have been described for microglia, besides their immune roles, ranging from promoting neurogenesis, to surveying the brain parenchyma, and providing trophic support to neurons across the entire lifespan. During early brain development microglia also play critical roles in remodeling synaptic connections and thus, in shaping neural circuits, with defective synaptic pruning leading to long-term brain connectivity and behavioral deficits.
Synapse loss is the major correlate of cognitive impairment in neurodegenerative diseases, and recent findings indicate that microglia can also be responsible for synapse loss in neurodegeneration. Here we will discuss the multiple roles of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases, and will provide evidence that dysfunctional microglia can be causally implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration.