Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) is essential for the production of microglia during embryogenesis, but its role in the adult brain is unknown. Here, the authors found that treatment of adult mice with CSF1R inhibitors resulted in the loss of almost all brain microglia, indicating a key role for this receptor in microglial homeostasis. Strikingly, removal of the inhibitors led to a rapid recovery of the microglial cell population. This effect was mediated through the proliferation and differentiation of nestin-positive cells, revealing these cells to be a microglial progenitor population in the adult brain.
References
Elmore, M. R. P. et al. Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor signaling is necessary for microglia viability, unmasking a microglia progenitor cell in the adult brain. Neuron 82, 380–397 (2014)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Whalley, K. Microglial maintenance. Nat Rev Neurosci 15, 353 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3759
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3759