Microglia and the brain: Complementary partners in development and disease
Abstract
An explosion of findings driven by powerful new technologies has expanded our understanding of microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). This wave of discoveries has fueled a growing interest in the roles that these cells play in the development of the CNS and in the neuropathology of a diverse array of disorders. In this review, we discuss the crucial roles that microglia play in shaping the brain—from their influence on neurons and glia within the developing CNS to their roles in synaptic maturation and brain wiring—as well as some of the obstacles to overcome when assessing their contributions to normal brain development. Furthermore, we examine how normal developmental functions of microglia are perturbed or remerge in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease.
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Microglia constantly eliminate cell debris and dead cells through highly efficient phagocytosis.
“Microglia constantly eliminate cell debris and dead cells through highly efficient phagocytosis using specific recognition, engulfment, and degradation processes to maintain brain homeostasis in health and disease [310,325,326,327].”
From Revisiting the Pathogenesis of X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (2025) · cites this paper as [326]
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- Authors
- Hammond, T. R., Robinton, D., & Stevens, B.
- Affiliations
- Boston Children's Hospital (US)
- Broad Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hammond, Timothy R.
- Robinton, Daisy
- Venue
- Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2018-10-06
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 523-544
- ISSN
- 1081-0706 (ISSN-L)
- 1530-8995
- OpenAlex
- W2886215053
- Cited by
- 288
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 2.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- microglia, brain development, central nervous system, neurodevelopmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, synapse maturation, brain wiring, microglia-neuron interaction, glia, neuroinflammation
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Central Nervous System, Humans, Neuroglia, Neurons, Signal Transduction, Microglia, Neurodegenerative Diseases
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