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Fig. 3 | Journal of Neuroinflammation

Fig. 3

From: Microglia dynamics in adolescent traumatic brain injury

Fig. 3

Complement-mediated synaptic pruning by microglia in the homeostatic and RmTBI adolescent brain. a Under homeostatic conditions, the complement protein C3 is converted to C3b by C3 convertase which tags unnecessary or weak synapses for pruning. Microglia, which highly express the C3 receptor (C3R), bind to synaptically tagged C3 molecules facilitating microglia-mediated pruning of pre-synaptic terminals. b Following RmTBI, microglia-mediated synaptic pruning may be either increased or decreased compared to homeostatic conditions. Ramified microglia are thought to be more efficient at synaptic pruning compared to amoeboid microglia, which could reduce pruning during adolescence. Alternatively, increased expression of C3 following RmTBI may facilitate increased synaptic pruning by activated/amoeboid microglia. Collectively, alterations in synaptic pruning caused by RmTBIs may directly influence synaptic density and overarching neural development and health

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