Newly discovered mechanism regulates microglial characteristics in early brain development

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have discovered a novel mechanism involved in brain development. They found that small fragments called micronuclei produced by neuronal nuclei are released into the extracellular space during the early establishment of the postnatal brain. They also found that microglia, which are resident immune cells in the brain, incorporate these micronuclei, thereby altering gene expression patterns and microglial characteristics.