Little cells of the little brain: microglia in cerebellar development and function

MB Stoessel, AK Majewska - Trends in neurosciences, 2021 - cell.com
MB Stoessel, AK Majewska
Trends in neurosciences, 2021cell.com
Microglia are long-lived resident macrophages of the brain with diverse roles that span
development, adulthood, and aging. Once thought to be a relatively homogeneous
population, there is a growing recognition that microglia are highly specialized to suit their
specific brain region. Cerebellar microglia represent an example of such specialization,
exhibiting a dynamical, transcriptional, and immunological profile that differs from that of
other microglial populations. Here we review the evidence that cerebellar microglia shape …
Microglia are long-lived resident macrophages of the brain with diverse roles that span development, adulthood, and aging. Once thought to be a relatively homogeneous population, there is a growing recognition that microglia are highly specialized to suit their specific brain region. Cerebellar microglia represent an example of such specialization, exhibiting a dynamical, transcriptional, and immunological profile that differs from that of other microglial populations. Here we review the evidence that cerebellar microglia shape the cerebellar environment and are in turn shaped by it. We examine the roles microglia play in cerebellar function, development, and aging. The emerging findings on cerebellar microglia may also provide insights into disease processes involving cerebellar dysfunction.
cell.com