Fractalkine Signaling and Microglia Functions in the Developing Brain

Microglial cells are the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS). Besides their classical roles in pathological conditions, these immune cells also dynamically interact with neurons and influence their structure and function in physiological conditions. The neuronal chemokine fracta...

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Main Authors: Isabelle Arnoux, Etienne Audinat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Neural Plasticity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/689404
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author Isabelle Arnoux
Etienne Audinat
author_facet Isabelle Arnoux
Etienne Audinat
author_sort Isabelle Arnoux
collection DOAJ
description Microglial cells are the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS). Besides their classical roles in pathological conditions, these immune cells also dynamically interact with neurons and influence their structure and function in physiological conditions. The neuronal chemokine fractalkine and its microglial receptor CX3CR1 are one important signaling pathway involved in these reciprocal interactions. In the present review, we will discuss recent evidence indicating that fractalkine signaling also determines several functions of microglial cells during normal CNS development. It has been known for a decade that microglial cells influence the neuronal death that normally occurs during CNS development. Surprisingly, recent evidence indicates that they can also support survival of developing neurons, control axon outgrowth, and laminar positioning of subsets of interneurons in the forebrain. Moreover, microglial cells influence the maturation of synaptic circuits at early postnatal stages: their phagocytic activity allows them to eliminate inappropriate synapses and they can also influence the functional expression of synaptic proteins by releasing mediators. Fractalkine signaling controls these functions of microglial cells in part by regulating their timely recruitment at sites of developing synapses. Finally, on-going research suggests that this signaling pathway is also a key player in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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spelling doaj-art-b41ef6e30bf94998b9d5c7d327eed8f72025-08-20T02:23:13ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432015-01-01201510.1155/2015/689404689404Fractalkine Signaling and Microglia Functions in the Developing BrainIsabelle Arnoux0Etienne Audinat1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1128, 75006 Paris, FranceInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1128, 75006 Paris, FranceMicroglial cells are the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS). Besides their classical roles in pathological conditions, these immune cells also dynamically interact with neurons and influence their structure and function in physiological conditions. The neuronal chemokine fractalkine and its microglial receptor CX3CR1 are one important signaling pathway involved in these reciprocal interactions. In the present review, we will discuss recent evidence indicating that fractalkine signaling also determines several functions of microglial cells during normal CNS development. It has been known for a decade that microglial cells influence the neuronal death that normally occurs during CNS development. Surprisingly, recent evidence indicates that they can also support survival of developing neurons, control axon outgrowth, and laminar positioning of subsets of interneurons in the forebrain. Moreover, microglial cells influence the maturation of synaptic circuits at early postnatal stages: their phagocytic activity allows them to eliminate inappropriate synapses and they can also influence the functional expression of synaptic proteins by releasing mediators. Fractalkine signaling controls these functions of microglial cells in part by regulating their timely recruitment at sites of developing synapses. Finally, on-going research suggests that this signaling pathway is also a key player in neurodevelopmental disorders.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/689404
spellingShingle Isabelle Arnoux
Etienne Audinat
Fractalkine Signaling and Microglia Functions in the Developing Brain
Neural Plasticity
title Fractalkine Signaling and Microglia Functions in the Developing Brain
title_full Fractalkine Signaling and Microglia Functions in the Developing Brain
title_fullStr Fractalkine Signaling and Microglia Functions in the Developing Brain
title_full_unstemmed Fractalkine Signaling and Microglia Functions in the Developing Brain
title_short Fractalkine Signaling and Microglia Functions in the Developing Brain
title_sort fractalkine signaling and microglia functions in the developing brain
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/689404
work_keys_str_mv AT isabellearnoux fractalkinesignalingandmicrogliafunctionsinthedevelopingbrain
AT etienneaudinat fractalkinesignalingandmicrogliafunctionsinthedevelopingbrain