Microglia and sexual differentiation of the developing brain: A focus on extrinsic factors.
Glia
; 68(6): 1100-1113, 2020 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31691400
ABSTRACT
Microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain, have recently been removed from the position of mere sentinels and promoted to the role of active sculptors of developing circuits and cells. Alongside their functions in normal brain development, microglia coordinate sexual differentiation of the brain, a set of processes which vary by region and endpoint like that of microglia function itself. In this review, we highlight the ways microglia are both targets and drivers of brain sexual differentiation. We examine the factors that may drive sex differences in microglia, with a special focus on how changing microenvironments in the developing brain dictate microglia phenotypes and discuss how their diverse functions sculpt lasting sex-specific changes in the brain. Finally, we consider how sex-specific early life environments contribute to epigenetic programming and lasting sex differences in microglia identity.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Diferenciação Sexual
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Encéfalo
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Caracteres Sexuais
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Microglia
Limite:
Animals
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article