Physiological Functions and Pathological Effects of Microglia

Dear Colleagues,

Microglia comprise a variety of subsets with multiple roles in the healthy and diseased brain. Microglia engulf dendritic spines and prune connections between neurons to establish mature patterns of connection during postnatal development. On the other hand, a fault in synaptic elimination and disturbance of the microglial circadian clock system are accepted characteristic abnormalities in neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism. Furthermore, excessive inflammatory and immune responses mediated by pathological microglia are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, in this Special Issue, we aim to retrieve the bank of data on physiological functions and pathological effects of microglia, which may aid in gaining a better understanding of their emergent properties in the brain.

Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Nakanishi
Guest Editor

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