The molecular determinants of microglial developmental dynamics

1. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2024 Jun;25(6):414-427. doi: 10.1038/s41583-024-00813-1.
Epub 2024 Apr 24.

The molecular determinants of microglial developmental dynamics.

Barry-Carroll L(1), Gomez-Nicola D(2).

Author information:
(1)Nutrineuro, UMR 1286 INRAE, Bordeaux University, Bordeaux INP, Bordeaux,
France.
(2)School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton General
Hospital, Southampton, UK. .

Microglia constitute the largest population of parenchymal macrophages in the
brain and are considered a unique subset of central nervous system glial cells
owing to their extra-embryonic origins in the yolk sac. During development,
microglial progenitors readily proliferate and eventually colonize the entire
brain. In this Review, we highlight the origins of microglial progenitors and
their entry routes into the brain and discuss the various molecular and
non-molecular determinants of their fate, which may inform their specific
functions. Specifically, we explore recently identified mechanisms that regulate
microglial colonization of the brain, including the availability of space, and
describe how the expansion of highly proliferative microglial progenitors
facilitates the occupation of the microglial niche. Finally, we shed light on
the factors involved in establishing microglial identity in the brain.

© 2024. Springer Nature Limited.

DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00813-1
PMID: 38658739 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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