Nanoscale Surveillance of the Brain by Microglia via cAMP-Regulated Filopodia

Authors: Louis‐Philippe Bernier, Christopher J. Bohlen, Elisa M. York, Hyun B. Choi, Alireza Kamyabi, Lasse Dissing‐Olesen, Jasmin K. Hefendehl, Hannah Y. Collins, Beth Stevens, Ben A. Barres, Brian A. MacVicar - Cell Reports 2019 cited by 233

-coupled P2Y12 receptor activation collapses filopodia but triggers large processes extension with bulbous tips. Similar control of cytoskeletal dynamics and microglial morphology by cAMP is observed in ramified primary microglia, suggesting that filopodia are intrinsically generated sensing structures. Therefore, nanoscale surveillance of brain parenchyma by microglia requires localized cAMP increases that drive filopodia formation. Shifting intracellular cAMP levels controls the polarity of microglial responses to changes in brain homeostasis and alters the scale of immunosurveillance.