An Engulfment Assay: A Protocol to Assess Interactions Between CNS Phagocytes and Neurons

Microglia Sculpt Postnatal Neural Circuits in an Activity and Complement-Dependent Manner

Schafer, D. P., Lehrman, E. K., Kautzman, A. G., Koyama, R., Mardinly, A. R., Yamasaki, R., Ransohoff, R. M., Greenberg, M. E., Barres, B. A., & Stevens, B. (2012) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.026 · Cited by 4,089 · see citing works

Microglia: Active sensor and versatile effector cells in the normal and pathologic brain

Hanisch, U.-K., & Kettenmann, H. (2007) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn1997 · Cited by 3,676 · see citing works

Synaptic Activity and the Construction of Cortical Circuits

Katz, L. C., & Shatz, C. J. (1996) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.274.5290.1133 · Cited by 3,048 · see citing works

Analysis of Fractalkine Receptor CX₃CR1 Function by Targeted Deletion and Green Fluorescent Protein Reporter Gene Insertion

Jung, S., Aliberti, J., Graemmel, P., Sunshine, M. J., Kreutzberg, G. W., Sher, A., & Littman, D. R. (2000) · Molecular and Cellular Biology · doi:10.1128/mcb.20.11.4106-4114.2000 · Cited by 2,632 · see citing works

Synapse Loss and Microglial Activation Precede Tangles in a P301S Tauopathy Mouse Model

Yoshiyama, Y., Higuchi, M., Zhang, B., Huang, S.-M., Iwata, N., Saido, T. C., Maeda, J., Suhara, T., Trojanowski, J. Q., & Lee, V. M.-Y. (2007) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2007.01.010 · Cited by 2,208 · see citing works

Experience-dependent structural synaptic plasticity in the mammalian brain

Holtmaat, A., & Svoboda, K. (2009) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn2699 · Cited by 1,934 · see citing works

Microglial physiology: unique stimuli, specialized responses

Ransohoff, R. M., & Perry, V. H. (2009) · Annual Review of Immunology · doi:10.1146/annurev.immunol.021908.132528 · Cited by 1,858 · see citing works

DEVELOPMENT OF THE VERTEBRATE NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION

Sanes, J. R., & Lichtman, J. W. (1999) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.22.1.389 · Cited by 1,532 · see citing works

The Complement System: An Unexpected Role in Synaptic Pruning During Development and Disease

Stephan, A. H., Barres, B. A., & Stevens, B. (2012) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-061010-113810 · Cited by 1,113 · see citing works

The Role of Microglia in the Healthy Brain: Figure 1.

Tremblay, M.-È., Stevens, B., Sierra, A., Wake, H., Bessis, A., & Nimmerjahn, A. (2011) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.4158-11.2011 · Cited by 992 · see citing works

Microglial Activation and its Implications in the Brain Diseases

Dheen, S. T., Kaur, C., & Ling, E. (2007) · Current Medicinal Chemistry · doi:10.2174/092986707780597961 · Cited by 954 · see citing works

Microglia: Scapegoat, saboteur, or something else?

Aguzzi, A., Barres, B. A., & Bennett, M. L. (2013) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1227901 · Cited by 836 · see citing works

Janus-faced microglia: beneficial and detrimental consequences of microglial phagocytosis

Sierra, A., Abiega, O., Shahraz, A., & Neumann, H. (2013) · Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fncel.2013.00006 · Cited by 574 · see citing works

The “quad‐partite” synapse: Microglia‐synapse interactions in the developing and mature CNS

Schafer, D. P., Lehrman, E. K., & Stevens, B. (2013) · Glia · doi:10.1002/glia.22389 · Cited by 570 · see citing works

Neural activity and the dynamics of central nervous system development

Hua, J. Y., & Smith, S. J. (2004) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn1218 · Cited by 450 · see citing works

Activity-Dependent Spinal Cord Plasticity in Health and Disease

Wolpaw, J. R., & Tennissen, A. M. (2001) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.24.1.807 · Cited by 443 · see citing works

Activity-dependent structural plasticity

Butz, M., Wörgötter, F., & Arjen Van Ooyen, B. (2009) · Brain Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.brainresrev.2008.12.023 · Cited by 321 · see citing works

Early synaptic pathophysiology in neurodegeneration: insights from Huntington's disease

Milnerwood, A. J., & Raymond, L. A. (2010) · Trends in Neurosciences · doi:10.1016/j.tins.2010.08.002 · Cited by 311 · see citing works

Dendritic Spine Loss and Synaptic Alterations in Alzheimer’s Disease

Knobloch, M., & Mansuy, I. M. (2008) · Molecular Neurobiology · doi:10.1007/s12035-008-8018-z · Cited by 296 · see citing works

Brain Plasticity Mechanisms and Memory: A Party of Four

Bruel‐Jungerman, E., Davis, S., & Laroche, S. (2007) · The Neuroscientist · doi:10.1177/1073858407302725 · Cited by 253 · see citing works

Microglia and Macrophage Activation and the Regulation of Complement-Receptor-3 (CR3/MAC-1)-Mediated Myelin Phagocytosis in Injury and Disease

Rotshenker, S. (2003) · Journal of Molecular Neuroscience · doi:10.1385/jmn:21:1:65 · Cited by 139 · see citing works

Synaptic remodeling during aging and in Alzheimer's disease

Masliah, E., Crews, L., & Hansen, L. (2006) · Journal of Alzheimer's Disease · doi:10.3233/jad-2006-9s311 · Cited by 132 · see citing works

Chapter 27 Neural Plasticity After Nerve Injury and Regeneration

Navarro, X. (2009) · International review of neurobiology · doi:10.1016/s0074-7742(09)87027-x · Cited by 117 · see citing works

Synapse elimination during development and disease: immune molecules take centre stage

Schafer, D. P., & Stevens, B. (2010) · Biochemical Society Transactions · doi:10.1042/bst0380476 · Cited by 110 · see citing works

The dark side of neuroplasticity

Brown, A. M., & Weaver, L. C. (2011) · Experimental Neurology · doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.11.004 · Cited by 90 · see citing works

Spinal cord injury, dendritic spine remodeling, and spinal memory mechanisms

Tan, A. M., & Waxman, S. G. (2011) · Experimental Neurology · doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.08.026 · Cited by 83 · see citing works

Phagocytosis of Myelin in Demyelinative Disease: A Review

Smith, M. E. (1999) · Neurochemical Research · doi:10.1023/a:1022566121967 · Cited by 79 · see citing works

Manganese-induced Trafficking and Turnover of the cis -Golgi Glycoprotein GPP130

Mukhopadhyay, S., Bachert, C., Smith, D. R., & Linstedt, A. D. (2010) · Molecular Biology of the Cell · doi:10.1091/mbc.e09-11-0985 · Cited by 77 · see citing works

Sweepers in the CNS: Microglial Migration and Phagocytosis in the Alzheimer Disease Pathogenesis

Noda, M., & Suzumura, A. (2012) · International Journal of Alzheimer s Disease · doi:10.1155/2012/891087 · Cited by 47 · see citing works

Complement and microglia mediate early synapse loss in Alzheimer mouse models

Hong, S., Beja-Glasser, V. F., Nfonoyim, B. M., Frouin, A., Li, S., Ramakrishnan, S., Merry, K. M., Shi, Q., Rosenthal, A., Barres, B. A., et al. (2016) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aad8373 · Cited by 3,343 · see citing works

The Microglial Innate Immune Receptor TREM2 Is Required for Synapse Elimination and Normal Brain Connectivity

Filipello, F., Morini, R., Corradini, I., Zerbi, V., Canzi, A., Michalski, B., Erreni, M., Markicevic, M., Starvaggi-Cucuzza, C., Otero, K., et al. (2018) · Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.016 · Cited by 695 · see citing works

Complement C3aR Inactivation Attenuates Tau Pathology and Reverses an Immune Network Deregulated in Tauopathy Models and Alzheimer’s Disease

Litvinchuk, A., Wan, Y.-W., Swartzlander, D. B., Chen, F., Cole, A., Propson, N. E., Wang, Q., Zhang, B., Liu, Z., & Zheng, H. (2018) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2018.10.031 · Cited by 523 · see citing works

Targeted Complement Inhibition at Synapses Prevents Microglial Synaptic Engulfment and Synapse Loss in Demyelinating Disease

Werneburg, S., Jung, J., Kunjamma, R. B., Ha, S.-K., Luciano, N. J., Willis, C. M., Gao, G., Biscola, N. P., Havton, L. A., Crocker, S. J., et al. (2020) · Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2019.12.004 · Cited by 440 · see citing works

Local externalization of phosphatidylserine mediates developmental synaptic pruning by microglia

Scott‐Hewitt, N., Perrucci, F., Morini, R., Erreni, M., Mahoney, M., Witkowska, A., Carey, A. E., Faggiani, E., Schuetz, L. T., Mason, S., et al. (2020) · The EMBO Journal · doi:10.15252/embj.2020105380 · Cited by 425 · see citing works

TREM2 activation on microglia promotes myelin debris clearance and remyelination in a model of multiple sclerosis

Cignarella, F., Filipello, F., Bollman, B., Cantoni, C., Locca, A., Mikesell, R., Manis, M., Ibrahim, A., Deng, L., Benitez, B. A., et al. (2020) · Acta Neuropathologica · doi:10.1007/s00401-020-02193-z · Cited by 392 · see citing works

Microglia Function in Central Nervous System Development and Plasticity

Schafer, D. P., & Stevens, B. (2015) · Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology · doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a020545 · Cited by 353 · see citing works

Overexpression of schizophrenia susceptibility factor human complement C4A promotes excessive synaptic loss and behavioral changes in mice

Yilmaz, M., Yalcin, E., Presumey, J., Aw, E., Ma, M., Whelan, C. W., Stevens, B., McCarroll, S. A., & Carroll, M. C. (2021) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-020-00763-8 · Cited by 321 · see citing works

Inhibition of Stat3‐mediated astrogliosis ameliorates pathology in an Alzheimer's disease model

Reichenbach, N., Delekate, A., Plescher, M., Schmitt, F., Krauss, S., Blank, N., Halle, A., & Petzold, G. C. (2019) · EMBO Molecular Medicine · doi:10.15252/emmm.201809665 · Cited by 343 · see citing works

Sensory lesioning induces microglial synapse elimination via ADAM10 and fractalkine signaling

Gunner, G., Cheadle, L., Johnson, K. M., Ayata, P., Badimon, A., Mondo, E., Nagy, M. A., Liu, L., Bemiller, S. M., Kim, K.-W., et al. (2019) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-019-0419-y · Cited by 311 · see citing works

Developing human pluripotent stem cell-based cerebral organoids with a controllable microglia ratio for modeling brain development and pathology

Xu, R., Boreland, A. J., Li, X., Erickson, C., Jin, M., Atkins, C., Pang, Z. P., Daniels, B. P., & Jiang, P. (2021) · Stem Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.06.011 · Cited by 222 · see citing works

Human iPSC-derived mature microglia retain their identity and functionally integrate in the chimeric mouse brain

Xu, R., Li, X., Boreland, A. J., Posyton, A., Kwan, K. Y., Hart, R. P., & Jiang, P. (2020) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-020-15411-9 · Cited by 190 · see citing works

Microglia and complement mediate early corticostriatal synapse loss and cognitive dysfunction in Huntington’s disease

Wilton, D. K., Mastro, K. J., Heller, M. D., Gergits, F. W., Willing, C. R., Fahey, J. B., Frouin, A., Daggett, A., Gu, X., Kim, Y. A., et al. (2023) · Nature Medicine · doi:10.1038/s41591-023-02566-3 · Cited by 179 · see citing works

Disruption of the IL-33-ST2-AKT signaling axis impairs neurodevelopment by inhibiting microglial metabolic adaptation and phagocytic function

He, D., Xu, H., Zhang, H., Tang, R., Lan, Y., Xing, R., Li, S., Christian, E., Hou, Y., Lorello, P. J., et al. (2022) · Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2021.12.001 · Cited by 167 · see citing works

TREM2 receptor protects against complement-mediated synaptic loss by binding to complement C1q during neurodegeneration

Zhong, L., Sheng, X., Wang, W., Li, Y., Zhuo, R., Wang, K., Zhang, L., Hu, D.-D., Hong, Y., Chen, L., et al. (2023) · Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2023.06.016 · Cited by 168 · see citing works

Amelioration of Tau and ApoE4-linked glial lipid accumulation and neurodegeneration with an LXR agonist

Litvinchuk, A., Suh, J. H., Guo, J. L., Lin, K., Davis, S. S., Bien-Ly, N., Tycksen, E., Tabor, G. T., Remolina Serrano, J., Manis, M., et al. (2024) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2023.10.023 · Cited by 161 · see citing works

Gestational Exposure to Air Pollution Alters Cortical Volume, Microglial Morphology, and Microglia-Neuron Interactions in a Sex-Specific Manner

Bolton, J. L., Marinero, S., Hassanzadeh, T., Natesan, D., Le, D., Belliveau, C., Mason, S. N., Auten, R. L., & Bilbo, S. D. (2017) · Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnsyn.2017.00010 · Cited by 154 · see citing works

Microglia contribute to circuit defects in Mecp2 null mice independent of microglia-specific loss of Mecp2 expression

Schafer, D. P., Heller, C. T., Gunner, G., Heller, M., Gordon, C., Hammond, T., Wolf, Y., Jung, S., & Stevens, B. (2016) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.15224 · Cited by 147 · see citing works

Long-term high-fat diet consumption by mice throughout adulthood induces neurobehavioral alterations and hippocampal neuronal remodeling accompanied by augmented microglial lipid accumulation

Zhuang, H., Yao, X., Li, H., Li, Q., Yang, C., Wang, C., Xu, D., Xiao, Y., Gao, Y. J., Gao, J., et al. (2021) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2021.11.018 · Cited by 147 · see citing works

The endogenous neuronal complement inhibitor SRPX2 protects against complement-mediated synapse elimination during development

Cong, Q., Soteros, B. M., Wollet, M., Kim, J. H., & Sia, G.-M. (2020) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-020-0672-0 · Cited by 129 · see citing works

Microglia-dependent excessive synaptic pruning leads to cortical underconnectivity and behavioral abnormality following chronic social defeat stress in mice

Wang, J., Chen, H., Li, H., Wang, H., Zou, R.-S., Lu, X., Wang, J., Nie, B., Wu, J., Li, S., et al. (2022) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2022.12.019 · Cited by 128 · see citing works

Microglia maintain structural integrity during fetal brain morphogenesis

Lawrence, A. R., Canzi, A., Bridlance, C., Olivié, N., Lansonneur, C., Catale, C., Pizzamiglio, L., Kloeckner, B., Silvin, A., Munro, D. A. D., et al. (2024) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.012 · Cited by 122 · see citing works

Dedicated macrophages organize and maintain the enteric nervous system

Viola, M. F., Chavero‐Pieres, M., Modave, E., Delfini, M., Stakenborg, N., Cuende‐Estévez, M., Fabre, N., Appeltans, I., Martens, T., Vandereyken, K., et al. (2023) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06200-7 · Cited by 115 · see citing works

Astrocytes from old Alzheimer's disease mice are impaired in Aβ uptake and in neuroprotection

Iram, T., Trudler, D., Kain, D., Kanner, S., Galron, R., Vassar, R. J., Barzilai, A., Blinder, P., Fishelson, Z., & Frenkel, D. (2016) · Neurobiology of Disease · doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2016.08.001 · Cited by 115 · see citing works

Neuronal integrity and complement control synaptic material clearance by microglia after CNS injury

Norris, G. T., Smirnov, I., Filiano, A. J., Shadowen, H. M., Cody, K. R., Thompson, J. A., Harris, T. H., Gaultier, A., Overall, C. C., & Kipnis, J. (2018) · Journal of Experimental Medicine · doi:10.1084/jem.20172244 · Cited by 109 · see citing works

Microglia-mediated synaptic pruning is impaired in sleep-deprived adolescent mice

Tuan, L., & Lee, L. (2019) · Neurobiology of Disease · doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104517 · Cited by 106 · see citing works

Microglia permit climbing fiber elimination by promoting GABAergic inhibition in the developing cerebellum

Nakayama, H., Abe, M., Morimoto, C., Iida, T., Okabe, S., Sakimura, K., & Hashimoto, K. (2018) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-018-05100-z · Cited by 100 · see citing works

Activity Shapes Neural Circuit Form and Function: A Historical Perspective

Pan, Y., & Monje, M. (2020) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0740-19.2019 · Cited by 95 · see citing works

Trem2 expression in microglia is required to maintain normal neuronal bioenergetics during development

Tagliatti, E., Desiato, G., Mancinelli, S., Bizzotto, M., Gagliani, M. C., Faggiani, E., Hernández‐Soto, R., Cugurra, A., Poliseno, P., Miotto, M., et al. (2023) · Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2023.12.002 · Cited by 89 · see citing works

Altered synaptic connectivity and brain function in mice lacking microglial adapter protein Iba1

Lituma, P. J., Woo, E., O’Hara, B. F., Castillo, P. E., Sibinga, N. E. S., & Nandi, S. (2021) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2115539118 · Cited by 85 · see citing works

Astrocyte endfoot formation controls the termination of oligodendrocyte precursor cell perivascular migration during development

Su, Y., Wang, X., Yang, Y., Chen, L., Xia, W., Hoi, K. K., Li, H. Z., Wang, Q., Yu, G., Chen, X., et al. (2022) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2022.10.032 · Cited by 83 · see citing works

Microglia-astrocyte crosstalk regulates synapse remodeling via Wnt signaling

Faust, T. E., Lee, Y., O’Connor, C. D., Boyle, M. A., Gunner, G., Durán‐Laforet, V., Ferrari, L. L., Murphy, R. E., Badimon, A., Sakers, K., et al. (2025) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2025.08.023 · Cited by 81 · see citing works

Mechanisms of demyelination and remyelination in the young and aged brain following white matter stroke

Marin, M. A., & Carmichael, S. T. (2018) · Neurobiology of Disease · doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2018.07.023 · Cited by 72 · see citing works

Complement C3aR depletion reverses HIF-1α–induced metabolic impairment and enhances microglial response to Aβ pathology

Gedam, M., Comerota, M. M., Propson, N. E., Chen, T., Jin, F., Wang, M. C., & Zheng, H. (2023) · Journal of Clinical Investigation · doi:10.1172/jci167501 · Cited by 71 · see citing works

Neuronal signal-regulatory protein alpha drives microglial phagocytosis by limiting microglial interaction with CD47 in the retina

Jiang, D., Burger, C. A., Akhanov, V., Liang, J. H., Mackin, R. D., Albrecht, N. E., Andrade, P., Schafer, D. P., & Samuel, M. A. (2022) · Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2022.10.018 · Cited by 62 · see citing works

Microglial Tmem59 Deficiency Impairs Phagocytosis of Synapse and Leads to Autism-Like Behaviors in Mice

Meng, J., Han, L., Zheng, N., Wang, T., Xu, H., Jiang, Y., Wang, Z., Liu, Z., Zheng, Q., Zhang, X., et al. (2022) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1644-21.2022 · Cited by 65 · see citing works

Time-dependent and selective microglia-mediated removal of spinal synapses in neuropathic pain

Yousefpour, N., Locke, S., Deamond, H., Wang, C., Marques, L., Louis, M. S., Ouellette, J., Khoutorsky, A., Koninck, Y. D., & Ribeiro‐da‐Silva, A. (2023) · Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112010 · Cited by 66 · see citing works

Lipofuscin-like autofluorescence within microglia and its impact on studying microglial engulfment

Stillman, J. M., Lopes, F. M., Lin, J., Hu, K., Reich, D. S., & Schafer, D. P. (2023) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-023-42809-y · Cited by 61 · see citing works

Microglia promote maladaptive plasticity in autonomic circuitry after spinal cord injury in mice

Brennan, F. H., Swarts, E. A., Kigerl, K. A., Mifflin, K. A., Guan, Z., Noble, B. T., Wang, Y., Witcher, K. G., Godbout, J. P., & Popovich, P. G. (2024) · Science Translational Medicine · doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.adi3259 · Cited by 56 · see citing works

Targeting C1q prevents microglia-mediated synaptic removal in neuropathic pain

Yousefpour, N., Tansley, S. N., Locke, S., Sharif, B., Parisien, M., Bourojeni, F. B., Deamond, H., Mathur, V., Arana, N. R.-K., Austin, J. S., et al. (2025) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59849-1 · Cited by 53 · see citing works

Systemic inflammation induced the delayed reduction of excitatory synapses in the CA3 during ageing

Manabe, T., Rácz, I., Schwartz, S., Oberle, L., Santarelli, F., Emmrich, J. V., Neher, J. J., & Heneka, M. T. (2021) · Journal of Neurochemistry · doi:10.1111/jnc.15491 · Cited by 44 · see citing works

Reduced Fractalkine Levels Lead to Striatal Synaptic Plasticity Deficits in Huntington’s Disease

Kim, A. A., García-García, E., Straccia, M., Comella-Bolla, A., Miguez, A., Masana, M., Alberch, J., Canals, J. M., & Rodríguez, M. J. (2020) · Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.00163 · Cited by 47 · see citing works

Real-time mechanisms of exacerbated synaptic remodeling by microglia in acute models of systemic inflammation and tauopathy

Cangalaya, C., Wegmann, S., Sun, W., Diez, L., Gottfried, A., Richter, K., Stoyanov, S., Pakan, J. M. P., Fischer, K., & Dityatev, A. E. (2023) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2023.02.023 · Cited by 45 · see citing works

Complement Dependent Synaptic Reorganisation During Critical Periods of Brain Development and Risk for Psychiatric Disorder

Westacott, L. J., & Wilkinson, L. S. (2022) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.840266 · Cited by 44 · see citing works

Chronic exposure of alcohol triggers microglia-mediated synaptic elimination inducing cognitive impairment

Lan, L., Wang, H., Zhang, X., Shen, Q., Li, X., He, L., Rong, X., Peng, J., Mo, J., & Peng, Y. (2022) · Experimental Neurology · doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114061 · Cited by 39 · see citing works

Osteopontin and its spatiotemporal relationship with glial cells in the striatum of rats treated with mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid: possible involvement in phagocytosis

Riew, T.-R., Kim, S., Jin, X., Kim, H., Lee, J.-H., & Lee, M.-Y. (2019) · Journal of Neuroinflammation · doi:10.1186/s12974-019-1489-1 · Cited by 35 · see citing works

P2Y6 receptor‐dependent microglial phagocytosis of synapses mediates synaptic and memory loss in aging

Dundee, J. M., Puigdellívol, M., Butler, R., Cockram, T. O. J., & Brown, G. C. (2022) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/acel.13761 · Cited by 32 · see citing works

TREM2 deficiency inhibits microglial activation and aggravates demyelinating injury in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

You, Y., Chen, M., Tang, Y., Yu, W.-X., Pang, X., Chu, Y., Zhang, H., Shang, K., Deng, G., Zhou, L., et al. (2023) · Journal of Neuroinflammation · doi:10.1186/s12974-023-02772-3 · Cited by 32 · see citing works

Serotonin sensing by microglia conditions the proper development of neuronal circuits and of social and adaptive skills

Albertini, G., D’Andrea, I., Druart, M., Béchade, C., Nieves-Rivera, N., Etienne, F., Magueresse, C. L., Rebsam, A., Heck, N., Maroteaux, L., et al. (2023) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-023-02048-5 · Cited by 32 · see citing works

Loss of interleukin 1 signaling causes impairment of microglia- mediated synapse elimination and autistic-like behaviour in mice

Borreca, A., Mantovani, C., Desiato, G., Corradini, I., Filipello, F., Elia, C., D’Autilia, F., Santamaria, G., Garlanda, C., Morini, R., et al. (2024) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2024.01.221 · Cited by 31 · see citing works

Voluntary exercise ameliorates synaptic pruning deficits in sleep-deprived adolescent mice

Tuan, L., Tsao, C.-Y., Lee, L. J., & Lee, L.-J. (2020) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.12.017 · Cited by 34 · see citing works

Microglia Mediate Synaptic Material Clearance at the Early Stage of Rats With Retinitis Pigmentosa

He, J., Zhao, C., Dai, J., Weng, C. H., Bian, B., Gong, Y. L., Ge, L., Fang, Y., Liu, H., Xu, H., et al. (2019) · Frontiers in Immunology · doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.00912 · Cited by 28 · see citing works

Disease-associated microglial activation prevents photoreceptor degeneration by suppressing the accumulation of cell debris and neutrophils in degenerating rat retinas

He, J., Fu, Y., Ge, L., Dai, J., Fang, Y., Li, Y., Gu, X., Tao, Z., Zou, T., Li, M., et al. (2022) · Theranostics · doi:10.7150/thno.67954 · Cited by 29 · see citing works

Microglial expression of GAT‐1 in the cerebral cortex

Fattorini, G., Catalano, M., Melone, M., Serpe, C., Bassi, S., Limatola, C., & Conti, F. (2019) · Glia · doi:10.1002/glia.23745 · Cited by 28 · see citing works

Immune proteins C1q and CD47 may contribute to aberrant microglia-mediated synapse loss in the aging monkey brain that is associated with cognitive impairment

DeVries, S. A., Conner, B., Dimovasili, C., Moore, T. L., Medalla, M., Mortazavi, F., & Rosene, D. L. (2023) · GeroScience · doi:10.1007/s11357-023-01014-x · Cited by 27 · see citing works

SIRT1 activation attenuates microglia-mediated synaptic engulfment in postoperative cognitive dysfunction

Sun, Y. N., Wang, Y., Ye, F., Cui, V., Lin, D., Shi, H., Zhang, Y., Wu, A., & Wei, C. (2022) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2022.943842 · Cited by 26 · see citing works

IDO1 modulates pain sensitivity and comorbid anxiety in chronic migraine through microglial activation and synaptic pruning

Hu, J., Ji, W.-J., Liu, G.-Y., Su, X., Zhu, J.-M., Hong, Y., Xiong, Y., Zhao, Y.-Y., Li, W., & Xie, W. D. (2025) · Journal of Neuroinflammation · doi:10.1186/s12974-025-03367-w · Cited by 26 · see citing works

TREM2 regulates microglial phagocytosis of synapses in innate immune tolerance

Meng, J., Han, L., Xu, H., Zhang, L., Liu, Z., Zhou, Y., Zhang, X., Luo, H., & Zhang, Y. (2023) · International Immunopharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111445 · Cited by 24 · see citing works

α-Synuclein propagation leads to synaptic abnormalities in the cortex through microglial synapse phagocytosis

Pérez-Acuña, D., Shin, S. J., Rhee, K. H., Kim, S. J., & Lee, S. (2023) · Molecular Brain · doi:10.1186/s13041-023-01059-1 · Cited by 26 · see citing works

High-Fat Diet Consumption Induces Neurobehavioral Abnormalities and Neuronal Morphological Alterations Accompanied by Excessive Microglial Activation in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Adolescent Mice

Wang, C., Li, H., Chen, C., Yao, X., Yang, C., Yu, Z., Ren, J., Ming, Y., Huang, Y., Rong, Y., et al. (2023) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms24119394 · Cited by 23 · see citing works

P2Y 6 Receptor-Dependent Microglial Phagocytosis of Synapses during Development Regulates Synapse Density and Memory

Dundee, J. M., Puigdellívol, M., Butler, R., & Brown, G. C. (2023) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1089-23.2023 · Cited by 23 · see citing works

FEAST: A flow cytometry-based toolkit for interrogating microglial engulfment of synaptic and myelin proteins

Dissing‐Olesen, L., Walker, A. J., Feng, Q., Barr, H. J., Walker, A. C., Xie, L., Wilton, D. K., Das, I., Benowitz, L. I., & Stevens, B. (2023) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-023-41448-7 · Cited by 24 · see citing works

Loss of Par1b/MARK2 primes microglia during brain development and enhances their sensitivity to injury

DiBona, V. L., Zhu, W., Shah, M. K., Rafalia, A., Cheikh, H. B., Crockett, D. P., & Zhang, H. (2019) · Journal of Neuroinflammation · doi:10.1186/s12974-018-1390-3 · Cited by 21 · see citing works

C1q Regulates Horizontal Cell Neurite Confinement in the Outer Retina

Burger, C. A., Jiang, D., Li, F., & Samuel, M. A. (2020) · Frontiers in Neural Circuits · doi:10.3389/fncir.2020.583391 · Cited by 19 · see citing works

Strategies and Tools for Studying Microglial-Mediated Synapse Elimination and Refinement

Morini, R., Bizzotto, M., Perrucci, F., Filipello, F., & Matteoli, M. (2021) · Frontiers in Immunology · doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.640937 · Cited by 20 · see citing works

The complement inhibitor CD59 is required for GABAergic synaptic transmission in the dentate gyrus

Wen, L., Yang, X., Wu, Z., Fu, S., Zhan, Y., Chen, Z., Bi, D., & Shen, Y. (2023) · Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112349 · Cited by 18 · see citing works

Anomalous Levels of CD47/Signal Regulatory Protein Alpha in the Hippocampus Lead to Excess Microglial Engulfment in Mouse Model of Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders

Shui, M., Sun, Y., Lin, D., Xue, Z., Liu, J., Wu, A., & Wei, C. (2022) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.788675 · Cited by 17 · see citing works

Interleukin-33 ameliorates perioperative neurocognitive disorders by modulating microglial state

Yang, D., Sun, Y., Lin, D., Li, S., Zhang, Y., Wu, A., & Wei, C. (2024) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109982 · Cited by 15 · see citing works

Adenosine A2A receptor modulates microglia-mediated synaptic pruning of the retinogeniculate pathway during postnatal development.

Miao, Y., Chen, X.-H., You, F., Jia, M.-L., Li, T., Tang, P., Shi, R., Hu, S., Zhang, L.-P., Chen, J.-F., et al. (2021) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108806 · Cited by 12 · see citing works

The Anaesthetics Isoflurane and Xenon Reverse the Synaptotoxic Effects of Aβ1–42 on Megf10-Dependent Astrocytic Synapse Elimination and Spine Density in Ex Vivo Hippocampal Brain Slices

Shi, D., Wong, J. K. Y., Zhu, K., Noakes, P. G., & Rammes, G. (2023) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms24020912 · Cited by 15 · see citing works

The “don’t eat me” signal CD47 is associated with microglial phagocytosis defects and autism-like behaviors in 16p11.2 deletion mice

Ju, J., Pan, Y., Yang, X., Li, X., Chen, J., Wu, S., & Hou, S. (2025) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2411080122 · Cited by 15 · see citing works

Aberrant Synaptic Pruning in CNS Diseases: A Critical Player in HIV-Associated Neurological Dysfunction?

Watson, Z., & Tang, S. (2022) · Cells · doi:10.3390/cells11121943 · Cited by 13 · see citing works

Adenosine mediates the amelioration of social novelty deficits during rhythmic light treatment of 16p11.2 deletion female mice

Ju, J., Li, X., Pan, Y., Du, J., Yang, X., Men, S., Liu, B., Zhang, Z., Zhong, H., Mai, J., et al. (2024) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-024-02596-4 · Cited by 11 · see citing works

Sleep and Memory Consolidation Dysfunction in Psychiatric Disorders: Evidence for the Involvement of Extracellular Matrix Molecules

Gisabella, B., Babu, J., Valeri, J., Rexrode, L., & Pantazopoulos, H. (2021) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.646678 · Cited by 13 · see citing works

Control of microglial dynamics by Arp2/3 and the autism and schizophrenia-associated protein Cyfip1

Drew, J., Arancibia-Carcamo, I. L., Jolivet, R., Lopez-Domenech, G., Attwell, D., & Kittler, J. T. (2020) · doi:10.1101/2020.05.31.124941 · Cited by 12 · see citing works

IL ‐10 and Cdc42 modulate astrocyte‐mediated microglia activation in methamphetamine‐induced neuroinflammation

Silva, A. I., Socodato, R., Pinto, C., Terceiro, A. F., Canedo, T., Relvas, J. B., Saraiva, M., & Summavielle, T. (2024) · Glia · doi:10.1002/glia.24542 · Cited by 10 · see citing works

Spi1 aggravates neuropathic pain by modulating Clec7a-mediated neuroinflammation and microglial phagocytosis

Xu, Y., Liu, X., Chen, H., Zhao, Y., Zhao, Y., Xie, Y., Pang, J., Zeng, H., Zeng, Y., Peng, W., et al. (2025) · The Journal of Headache and Pain · doi:10.1186/s10194-025-02089-x · Cited by 9 · see citing works

Parkinsonism disrupts cortical function by dysregulating oscillatory, network and synaptic activity of parvalbumin positive interneurons

Minetti, A., Montagni, E., Meneghetti, N., Macchi, F., Coulomb, É., Martello, A., Tiberi, A., Capsoni, S., Mazzoni, A., Mascaro, A. L. A., et al. (2025) · npj Parkinson s Disease · doi:10.1038/s41531-025-01052-6 · Cited by 10 · see citing works

Transforming Growth Factor β1 Ameliorates Microglial Activation in Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders

Lin, D., Sun, Y., Wang, Y., Yang, D., Shui, M., Wang, Y., Xue, Z., Huang, X. D., Zhang, Y., Wu, A., et al. (2023) · Neurochemical Research · doi:10.1007/s11064-023-03994-w · Cited by 9 · see citing works

The effects of early-life immune activation on microglia-mediated neuronal remodeling and the associated ontogeny of hippocampal-dependent learning in juvenile rats

Osborne, B. F., Beamish, S. B., & Schwarz, J. M. (2021) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2021.06.004 · Cited by 8 · see citing works

Adult mice with noise-induced hearing loss exhibited temporal ordering memory deficits accompanied by microglia-associated neuroplastic changes in the medial prefrontal cortex

Li, Q., Kang, X., Liu, L., Xiao, Y. M., Xu, D., Zhuang, H., Liu, H., Zhao, J., Zou, H., Yang, J., et al. (2023) · Neurobiology of Disease · doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106181 · Cited by 7 · see citing works

Abstinence from cocaine self-administration promotes microglial pruning of astrocytes, which drives cocaine-seeking behavior

Testen, A., VanRyzin, J. W., Bellinger, T. J., Kim, R., Wang, H., Gastinger, M. J., Witt, E. A., Franklin, J. P., Vecchiarelli, H. A., Picard, K., et al. (2025) · Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116137 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

An Early Enriched Experience Drives an Activated Microglial Profile at Site of Corrective Neuroplasticity in Ten-m3 Knock-Out Mice

Rogerson‐Wood, L., Petersen, J., Kairouz, A., Goldsbury, C. S., Sawatari, A., & Leamey, C. A. (2022) · eNeuro · doi:10.1523/eneuro.0162-22.2022 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

TMEM59 deficiency activates chaperone‐mediated autophagy and ameliorates disease‐like pathologies in tauopathy model mice

Zheng, N., Wang, Z., Cao, J., Li, K., Xu, H., Wang, J., Zhang, L., Meng, J., Tang, Z., Luo, H., et al. (2025) · Alzheimer s & Dementia · doi:10.1002/alz.70369 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

WITHDRAWN: Complement C3-dependent glutamatergic synapse elimination in the developing hippocampus is region- and synapse-specificPreprint

Salter, E. W., Lei, G., Choi, S.-L., Ralph, L. T., Zhang, L., Jin, F., Kadia, A., Wang, J., Georgiou, J., & Collingridge, G. L. (2020) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2020.05.20.106930 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Microglia Mediate Early Corticostriatal Synapse Loss and Cognitive Dysfunction in Huntington’s Disease Through Complement-Dependent MechanismsPreprint

Wilton, D. K., Mastro, K. J., Heller, M. D., Gergits, F. W., Willing, C. R., Frouin, A., Daggett, A., Gu, X., Kim, A. Y., Faull, R. L. M., et al. (2021) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2021.12.03.471180 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Chromatin remodeling factor BAF155 coordinates oligodendroglial-neuronal communications linked to regional myelination and autism-like behavioral deficits in mice

Wang, X., Zeng, C., Wu, Z., Lu, M., Wang, X., Xiu, Y., Wang, Q., Wang, S., Chen, X., Shen, Y., et al. (2025) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-025-67930-y · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Maternal diet during early gestation influences postnatal taste activity–dependent pruning by microglia

Sun, C., Zheng, S., Perry, J. S. A., Norris, G. T., Cheng, M., Kong, F., Skyberg, R. J., Cang, J., Erişir, A., Kipnis, J., et al. (2023) · The Journal of Experimental Medicine · doi:10.1084/jem.20212476 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

Reduced exosomal miR-215-5p activates the NEAT1/MAPK1/p-CRMP2 pathway and contributes to social dysfunction in a VPA-induced autism model

Liu, L., Xie, L., Shen, Y., Zeng, Z., Xu, D., Bo, L., Wu, L., Wu, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, Y., et al. (2025) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2025.110539 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

Inhibiting AMPA receptor signaling in oligodendrocytes rescues synapse loss in a model of autoimmune demyelination

Mey, G. M., Evonuk, K. S., Shelestak, J., Irfan, M., Wolfe, L. M., Laye, S. E., Schafer, D. P., & DeSilva, T. M. (2024) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.111226 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

Control of microglial dynamics by the Arp2/3 complex and the autism- and schizophrenia-associated protein CYFIP1

Scott-Solache, J., Pei, J., Drew, J., López-Doménech, G., Jolivet, R. B., Nieto-Rostro, M., Davenport, E. C., Arancibia-Cárcamo, I. L., Attwell, D., & Kittler, J. T. (2026) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2532488123 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Functional Diversity of Two Novel Embryonic Microglial Subpopulations and Their Developmental Trajectories in Developing Mouse Brains

Cheng, S. M., Ho, C., Chen, S., Huang, Y.-T., Mao, P., Lin, T., Chen, J., Sun, H. S., Hwang, D., & Chu, C. (2025) · Glia · doi:10.1002/glia.70064 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

An early enriched experience drives targeted microglial engulfment of miswired neural circuitry during a restricted postnatal period

Rogerson‐Wood, L., Goldsbury, C. S., Sawatari, A., & Leamey, C. A. (2024) · Glia · doi:10.1002/glia.24522 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Complement protein C1q is a therapeutic target for neuropathic painPreprint

Yousefpour, N., Tansley, S. N., Locke, S., Sharif, B., Parisien, M., Deamond, H., Mathur, V., Yednock, T. A., Austin, J., Bourassa, V., et al. (2021) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1016420/v1 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Abstinence from cocaine self-administration promotes microglia pruning of astrocytes which drives cocaine-seeking behaviorPreprint

Testen, A., VanRyzin, J. W., Bellinger, T. J., Kim, R., Wang, H., Gastinger, M. J., Witt, E. A., Franklin, J. P., Vecchiarelli, H. A., Picard, K., et al. (2024) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2024.09.20.614128 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Microglial Engulfment of Multisensory Terminals in the Midbrain Inferior Colliculus During an Early Critical Period

Moran, E. R., & Gabriele, M. L. (2025) · The Journal of Comparative Neurology · doi:10.1002/cne.70033 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

AXL-mediate GEF-H1 phosphorylation was involved in microglia synapse phagocytosis in 5xFAD mice

Chen, G., Zhang, J., Dong, A., Xiao, L., Huang, P., Huang, T., Ye, Q., & Huang, E. (2025) · Experimental Neurology · doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2025.115327 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells engulf synaptic inputs in an experience- and microglia-dependent mannerPreprint

Auguste, Y. S. S., Ferro, A., Dixon, J. R., Vrudhula, U., Kahng, J. A., Nichitiu, A.-S., & Cheadle, L. (2022) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2022.02.10.479887 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Emergence of microglia structural and functional heterogeneity between hippocampal subregions during development into early adulthoodPreprint

Salter, E. W., Lackie, E. R. L., Georgiou, J., & Collingridge, G. L. (2026) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.64898/2026.02.04.703826 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Protocol to assess engulfment and degradation of synaptosomes by murine microglia in vitro

Matera, A., Compagnion, A., & Paolicelli, R. C. (2025) · STAR Protocols · doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2025.103936 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

Quantification of microglial contact and engulfment of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the rodent brain

Nemes, A. D., & DeSilva, T. M. (2021) · STAR Protocols · doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100403 · Cited by 10 · see citing works

Assessing microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic neurons in vitro: a multimodal approach

Mukwaya, A., Yin, Z., Yarcusko, R., Baldwin, G., Uddin, M. N., Venkat, H., Xue, Y., Arnam, N. S. V., Kam, H., Chen, D. F., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2026.1813556

Assessing Retinal Microglial Phagocytic Function In Vivo Using a Flow Cytometry-based Assay

Murinello, S., Moreno, S. K., Macauley, M. S., Sakimoto, S., Westenskow, P. D., & Friedlander, M. (2016) · Journal of Visualized Experiments · doi:10.3791/54677 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

In Vitro Engulfment Assay to Measure Phagocytic Activity of Astrocytes Using Synaptosomes

Byun, Y. G., & Chung, W. (2019) · Methods in molecular biology · doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-9068-9_11 · Cited by 3 · see citing works