Astrocyte-microglia crosstalk in thalamocortical synapse refinement
Both microglia and astrocytes play crucial role in synapse refinement during development but it is not clear how they communicate to balance synapse formation and elimination.
The researchers show that astrocytes instruct this process through the secreted synaptogenic protein Hevin/Sparcl1.
The proteolytically generated C-terminal of Hevin signals to microglia via TLR4, triggering a pro-phagocytic state that promotes refinement of thalamocortical synapses in the developing visual cortex.
