Glia detect and transiently protect against dendrite substructure disruption in C. elegans.

Glia assess axon structure to modulate myelination and axon repair. Whether glia similarly detect dendrites and their substructures is not well understood. Here we show that glia monitor the integrity of dendrite substructures and transiently protect them against perturbations.

Cell non-autonomous control of autophagy and metabolism by glial cells.

Glia are the protectors of the nervous system, providing neurons with support and protection from cytotoxic insults. We previously discovered that four astrocyte-like glia can regulate organismal proteostasis and longevity in . Expression of the UPR transcription factor, XBP-1s, in these glia increases stress resistance, and longevity, and activates the UPR in intestinal cells via neuropeptides.

Glia detect and mount a protective response to loss of dendrite substructure integrity in .

Neurons have elaborate structures that determine their connectivity and functions. Changes in neuronal structure accompany learning and memory formation and are hallmarks of neurological disease. Here we show that glia monitor dendrite structure and respond to dendrite perturbation.