CD47 Protects Synapses from Excess Microglia-Mediated Pruning during Development.

ABSTRACT: Microglia regulate synaptic circuit remodeling and phagocytose synaptic material in the healthy brain; however, the mechanisms directing microglia to engulf specific synapses and avoid others remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that an innate immune signaling pathway protects synapses from inappropriate removal. The expression patterns of CD47 and its receptor, SIRPα, correlated with peak pruning in the developing retinogeniculate system, and mice lacking these proteins exhibited increased microglial engulfment of retinogeniculate inputs and reduced synapse numbers in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. CD47-deficient mice also displayed increased functional pruning, as measured by electrophysiology. In addition, CD47 was found to be required for neuronal activity-mediated changes in e

SUBMITTER: Lehrman EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6314207 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature