Love and death: Microglia, NLRP3 and the Alzheimer's brain

Abstract

Microglia were previously attributed to be vital brain guardians for neuronal survival and synaptic pruning during development as well as for the brain's fight against environmental pathogens. A new report in Nature by the Heneka, Latz and Golenbock groups, however, sheds new light on these distinct myeloid cells by revealing their deadly nature for mature neurons during neurodegeneration. © 2013 IBCB, SIBS, CAS. All rights reserved.