Astrocytes and microglia play orchestrated roles and respect phagocytic territories during neuronal corpse removal in vivo

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba3239
• Publication Date: 2020-06-26T23:45:57Z
• Authors: Eyiyemisi C. Damisah; Robert A. Hill; Anupama Rai; Fuyi Chen; Carla V. Rothlin; Sourav Ghosh; Jaime Grutzendler
• Keywords: Neuroglia

Cell death is prevalent throughout life; however, the coordinated interactions and roles of phagocytes during corpse removal in live brain are poorly understood. We developed photochemical viral methodologies to induce single cells combined this with intravital optical imaging. This approach allowed us track multicellular phagocytic precise spatiotemporal resolution. Astrocytes microglia engaged dying neurons an orchestrated synchronized fashion. Each glial cell played specialized roles: Astrocyte processes rapidly polarized engulfed numerous small dendritic apoptotic bodies, while migrated soma apical dendrites. The relative involvement specialization each was plastic controlled by receptor tyrosine kinase