Special report: Microglia

Recent articles

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Molecular mechanisms: Microglia abnormal in autism brains

Two new postmortem studies show that microglia, which protect the brain from invaders, are denser and more concentrated around neurons in the brains of individuals with autism than in those of controls.

By Jessica Wright
5 June 2012 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Immune cells sculpt brain by pruning neuronal connections

Immune cells called microglia may play a central role in trimming synapses, the connections between neurons, according to research published 24 May in Neuron. These modifications are part of a normal developmental process by which excess synapses in the brain are destroyed.

By Emily Singer
4 June 2012 | 7 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Bone marrow transplant alleviates Rett symptoms in mice

A bone marrow transplant from healthy mice to those lacking the MeCP2 protein, which causes Rett syndrome, extends lifespan and alleviates symptoms of the disorder, according to research published online 18 March in Nature.

By Emily Singer
19 March 2012 | 7 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

The value of blood cells in autism research

Blood from individuals with autism could help researchers identify biomarkers to diagnose the disorder and learn more about related symptoms, such as gastrointestinal complaints, says molecular biologist Valerie Hu.

By Valerie Hu
10 January 2012 | 7 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Networks of genes altered in autism brains, study says

Two networks of genes are abnormally expressed in the brains of people with autism, according to a study published today in Nature.

By Virginia Hughes
25 May 2011 | 6 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Scientists capture microglia’s role in brain connectivity

Scientists are changing their minds about the role of microglia, the brain's strongest and most agile soldiers against damage and infection. In healthy brains, microglia help build and eliminate synapses, the junctions between neurons, according to a study published 2 November in PLoS Biology.

By Virginia Hughes
20 December 2010 | 5 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Molecular mechanisms: Autism brains show ‘angry’ microglia

A study of postmortem tissue shows that microglia, cells that provide immune protection to the brain, are altered in the brains of individuals with autism.

By Jessica Wright
27 September 2010 | 2 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Rett gene function extends beyond neurons, study finds

Microglia, brain cells that provide immune protection to neurons, may influence the onset and course of Rett syndrome, according to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

By Kelly Rae Chi
15 June 2010 | 5 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

ABCD Study omits gender-identity data from latest release

The removal counteracts the goals of the longitudinal study by “pretending that some aspects of adolescent brain development don’t exist,” says sex differences researcher Nicola Grissom.

By Calli McMurray
11 July 2025 | 4 min read
Leafcutter ants carrying leaves.

Neuropeptides reprogram social roles in leafcutter ants

The mechanisms that control the labor roles of ants may also be conserved in naked mole rats, a new study shows.

By Shaena Montanari
11 July 2025 | 7 min listen
Illustration of overlapping, multi-colored human head silhouettes.

Perspectives from the field: Opinions in autism research

This collection of Spectrum articles from the past 12 months highlights expert perspectives on autism’s heritability and its link to biological sex, the value of transdiagnostic frameworks, and the field’s future, among other topics.

By Daisy Yuhas
10 July 2025 | 3 min read