1 Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada; PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Canada; Center for Structural and Functional Genomics, Concordia University, Canada.
2 Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada.
3 Department of Biology, Concordia University, Canada; PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Canada; Center for Structural and Functional Genomics, Concordia University, Canada.
4 Program in NeuroEngineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montréal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Canada.
5 Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada.
6 Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, Montréal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada; Department of Biology, Concordia University, Canada; PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, Canada; Center for Structural and Functional Genomics, Concordia University, Canada. Electronic address: peter.darlington@concordia.ca.

Comparative morphology and phagocytic capacity of primary human adult microglia with time-lapse imaging.

J Neuroimmunol. 2017 09 15;310:143-149

Authors: Levtova N, Healy LM, Gonczi CMC, Stopnicki B, Blain M, Kennedy TE, Moore CS, Antel JP, Darlington PJ

Abstract

Microglia provide immune surveillance within the brain and spinal cord. Various microglial morphologies include ramified, amoeboid, and pseudopodic. The link between form and function is not clear, especially for human adult microglia which are limited in availability for study. Here, we examined primary human microglia isolated from normal-appearing white matter. Pseudopodic and amoeboid microglia were effective phagocytes, taking up E. coli bioparticles using ruffled cell membrane sheets and retrograde transport. Pseudopodic and amoeboid microglia were more effective phagocytes as compared to ramified microglia or monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Thus, amoeboid and pseudopodic microglia may both be effective as brain scavengers.

PMID: 28606377 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]