Altered synaptic connectivity and brain function in mice lacking microglial adapter protein Iba1
Pablo J. Lituma, Evan Woo, Bruce F. O’Hara, Pablo E. Castillo, Nicholas Sibinga, Sayan Nandi
Abstract
Significance Abnormal microglia–neuron interaction is increasingly implicated in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions, such as autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia, as well as in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. This study demonstrates that the deletion of the microglia-specific protein Iba1, which has long been utilized as a selective microglial marker but whose role has remained unidentified, results in microglial structural and functional impairments that significantly impact synaptic development and behavior. These findings not only highlight the importance of microglia in brain function but may also suggest that modifying the microglial function could provide a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders.