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    • Summary of Lessons Learned Since 2005 Rediscovery of Microglia
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    • BLS 101 - Project Contents >
      • Project Introduction
      • Video and Documentary Resources >
        • Video Resources - Microglia as a Therapeutic Target
        • Documents - Microglia in Health and Disease
        • Documents - Microglia Role in Neuro-developmental Disease & Disorder
        • Documents - Microglia Role in Neuro-degenerative Disease
        • Documents - Microglia Role in Neuropathic Pain Disorders & Opioid Side Effects
        • Documents - ETX Studies
      • Background: The Rationale for a Microglia Modulator >
        • Background Pt 1: Summary of Lessons Learned Since 2005 Rediscovery of Microglia
        • Background Pt 2: The Active Role of Microglia in Healthy Brain
        • Background Pt 3: Causal Role for Microglia in Neuro-degenerative Disease
        • Background Pt 4: Causal Role for Microglia in Neuro-developmental Disease
        • Bilbo Video Clip - An Unmet Need for Microglial Modulators
      • ETX - Select Data >
        • ETX Data: ETX vs Benzo (Lorazepam) - Clinical Data
        • ETX Data: ETX vs Benzo (Alprazolam) - Clinical Data
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation - CFA Monoarthritis Model
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation - EAE MS Model
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation-Intracerebral Hemorrhage Model
        • ETX Data: Inhibtion of Microglial Activation via TLR4 Ligands
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation-CCI Model of Traumatic Brain Injury
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation-Sciatic Cryolesion Model
      • ETX - Select Data - Neuropathic Pain >
        • ETX Data: CFA Induced Model of Neuropathic Pain
        • ETX Data: ETX Prevents & Cures Chemo-Induced Neuropathic Pain - 3 Models
        • ETX Data: Cuffed Nerve Model of Neuropathic Pain
      • Market and Competition >
        • Market: Anti-Anxiety Medications
        • Competition: Microglial Modulator Dev Programs
    • BLS 102 - Project Navigation

Professor Beth Stevens (Harvard University Program in Immunology)

Nov 2016  Simon Foundation Lecture On New Science of  Microglia  Function in the Healthy Developing and Mature  Brain and the  Implications for Autism and Schizophrenia

Stevens discusses her Harvard lab's work uncovering the molecular biology behind the critical role microglia play in the developing healthy brain -- as phagocytic sculpters/refiners/architects of the brain's vast and initially unruly synaptic network.  

She discusses how dysregulation of the microglial process of synaptic refinement during development may be at the root of a diverse set of complicated neuro-developmental disorders,including autism and schizophrenia.  

Further, she discusses how this large scale synapto-phagocytic machinery --  turned off for most part after development -- can be aberrantly  turned back on in the mature brain leading to network damaging synapse loss,  

Evidence now suggests that region specific microglial driven synapse loss precedes disease manifestation in the major neuro-degenerative diseases, including Huntington's and Alzheimers, and therefore may be a root cause of diverse neuro-degenerative disease

Stevens, Beth, Role of Microglia in Synaptic Pruning in Normal Brain Development and in Neuro-developmental and Neuro-degenerative Disorder and Disease

Stevens, Beth, Role of Microglia in Synaptic Pruning in Normal Brain Development and in Neuro-developmental and Neuro-degenerative Disorner and Disease





Barres, Ben 2017,  Role of Microglia activated A1  Phenotype Astrocytes in Neurodegenerative Diseases Ranging from AD to  ALS, MS, and retinal degeneration  - 2017 Broad Institute Lecture, MIT

A totally remarkable presentation of recent work by the Barres Lab at Stanford University which has illuminated the neurodegenerative and destructive  role of A1 activated astrocytes.  Barres lab has shown that A1 activation is driven by immunologically reactive microglia, and, in particular, the production exclusively by microglia of the IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha, and C1q cytokines in response to immune challenge (such as LPS) or injury (such as ischemic stroke).  These signalling molecules then trigger a robust functional change in astrocytes from a neurotrophic functional profile to a neurotoxic, and neuro-phagocytic  functional profile.

Importantly, Barres and colleagues showed that the immune challenge itself was insufficient to trigger A1 activation of astrocytes.  . The presence of microglia, and, more specifically, the presence of  microglial derived inflammatory cytokines was required for the damaging transformation of astrocytes  to an A1 neurotoxic profile.



Wake et al, 2009,
2 Photon Microsopy of Microglia Extending Processes to Contact Pre and Post Synaptic Elements of Neuron.

Microglial Process making Contact with and Altering  Post-synaptic Spine Along Single Dendrite
Microglia Process Making Contact with and Altering Pre-synaptic Bouton along Single Axon


Nimmerjahn, et al, 2005 
2 Photon Microsopy of Individual Microglial Cell 

Parkhusrt, et al, 2009  
Thin Sculled 2 Photon Microsopy of Microglial Motility

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  • Home
  • About
  • One Brain, Two Computers
    • Summary of Lessons Learned Since 2005 Rediscovery of Microglia
    • The Active Role of Microglia in Healthy Brain
  • Projects
    • BLS 101 - Project Contents >
      • Project Introduction
      • Video and Documentary Resources >
        • Video Resources - Microglia as a Therapeutic Target
        • Documents - Microglia in Health and Disease
        • Documents - Microglia Role in Neuro-developmental Disease & Disorder
        • Documents - Microglia Role in Neuro-degenerative Disease
        • Documents - Microglia Role in Neuropathic Pain Disorders & Opioid Side Effects
        • Documents - ETX Studies
      • Background: The Rationale for a Microglia Modulator >
        • Background Pt 1: Summary of Lessons Learned Since 2005 Rediscovery of Microglia
        • Background Pt 2: The Active Role of Microglia in Healthy Brain
        • Background Pt 3: Causal Role for Microglia in Neuro-degenerative Disease
        • Background Pt 4: Causal Role for Microglia in Neuro-developmental Disease
        • Bilbo Video Clip - An Unmet Need for Microglial Modulators
      • ETX - Select Data >
        • ETX Data: ETX vs Benzo (Lorazepam) - Clinical Data
        • ETX Data: ETX vs Benzo (Alprazolam) - Clinical Data
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation - CFA Monoarthritis Model
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation - EAE MS Model
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation-Intracerebral Hemorrhage Model
        • ETX Data: Inhibtion of Microglial Activation via TLR4 Ligands
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation-CCI Model of Traumatic Brain Injury
        • ETX Data: Microglial Modulation-Sciatic Cryolesion Model
      • ETX - Select Data - Neuropathic Pain >
        • ETX Data: CFA Induced Model of Neuropathic Pain
        • ETX Data: ETX Prevents & Cures Chemo-Induced Neuropathic Pain - 3 Models
        • ETX Data: Cuffed Nerve Model of Neuropathic Pain
      • Market and Competition >
        • Market: Anti-Anxiety Medications
        • Competition: Microglial Modulator Dev Programs
    • BLS 102 - Project Navigation