Hungarian scientists have found a new connection between nerve cells and brain immune cells

Researchers from the Hungarian Institute of Experimental Medicine published an article in Science in December 2019, revealing new connections between nerve cells and brain immune cells Microglia are the main immune cells in the brain and play a role in brain homeostasis and nervous system diseases When an area of the brain is injured, such as a severe blow to the head or a stroke or lack of oxygen, many neurons will be damaged, some will die immediately, some will die slowly, and others will return to health once nutrition and oxygen are restored Hungarian researchers found that the factors that determine which neurons will be preserved and which will be cleaned up depend not only on the state of the damaged neurons, but also largely on the regulation of microglia The latest findings by Hungarian researchers have identified sites of interaction between neuronal cell bodies and microglial processes in mice and human brains The microglia neuron connections in somatic cells have nanostructures that are specifically designed for purine signaling The activity of neuron mitochondria is related to the formation of microglial node, which is induced by rapid response to neuron activation and blocked by P2Y12 receptor (p2y12r) Brain injury induced changes in the junction of somatic cells triggered the neuroprotection of p2y12r dependent microglia, regulating neuronal calcium load and functional connectivity Therefore, microglial processes at these junctions may monitor and protect neuronal function This new discovery will help to save the damaged nerve cells and open up new treatment directions for stroke and other nervous system diseases