Microglia as Regulators of Neural Transmission

This study, freely available here(4.61MB), has some striking implications. These are listed below. The Science Daily news release can read here. Microglia are typically perceived as the immune cells of the CNS but this study builds on former studies all pointing to the possibility that our current understanding about neural transmission and memory is too constrained. This present study indicates:

• Microglia regulate the fate the synapses
• Microglia are constantly on the move and at a rapid pace.
• Microglia may be regulating memory consolidation.
• Our conceptual separation of immune processes and neural transmission is a fundamental error.

Immune Driven Psychopathology in Mice?

It all began way back in the 19th century. "Sickness Behavior" was observed in humans and farm animals. As that Wiki article goes on to explain, there are some interesting similarities between sickness behavior and depression. This has been an active area of research for many years now. One key article is this one from 2003. This strange and puzzling linkage between the nervous systems and immune systems has been evidenced by the following:

• Shizophrenia is associated with differing rates of cancer and autoimmune disease from others.
• Epileptics also have altered immunological responses, this possibly driven by hippocampal - fornix - PVN networks(guess).
• Traumatic brain injury can induce a variety of physiological changes, from altered melatonin production to variations in circadian cortisol secretion. 

This is going to be difficult ...