Abstract

Complement proteins are ancient components of innate immunity that have emerged as crucial regulators of neural networks. We discuss these roles in the context of the CNS development, acute CNS viral infections, and post-infectious and noninfectious CNS disorders, with an emphasis on microglia-mediated loss of synapses. Despite extensive examples that implicate classical complement proteins and their receptors in CNS dysfunction, recent data suggest that they exert neuroprotective roles in CNS homeostasis through continued refinement of synaptic connections. Thorough understanding of the mechanisms involved in these processes may lead to novel targets for the treatment of CNS diseases involving aberrant complement-mediated synapse loss.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)97-109
Number of pages13
JournalTrends in Neurosciences
Volume44
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021

Keywords

  • astrocytes
  • microglia
  • neurodegenerative disease
  • synapse
  • viral encephalitis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Neuroprotective versus Neuroinflammatory Roles of Complement: From Development to Disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this