Microglia refine developing retinal astrocytic and vascular networks through the complement C3/C3aR axis.

ABSTRACT: Microglia, a resident immune cell of the central nervous system (CNS), play a pivotal role in facilitating neurovascular development through mechanisms that are not fully understood. Previous reports indicate a role for microglia in regulating astrocyte density. This current work resolves the mechanism through which microglia facilitate astrocyte spatial patterning and superficial vascular bed formation in the neuroretina during development. Ablation of microglia increased astrocyte density and altered spatial patterning. Mechanistically, we show that microglia regulate the formation of the spatially organized astrocyte template required for subsequent vascular growth, through the complement C3/C3aR axis during neuroretinal development. Lack of C3 or C3aR hindered the developmental phagocy

SUBMITTER: Gnanaguru G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10110418 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature