Defective phagocytosis leads to neurodegeneration through systemic increased innate immune signaling.

In nervous system development, disease, and injury, neurons undergo programmed cell death, leaving behind cell corpses that are removed by phagocytic glia. Altered glial phagocytosis has been implicated in several neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease. To untangle the links between glial phagocytosis and neurodegeneration, we investigated mutants lacking the phagocytic receptor Draper.

Defective phagocytosis leads to neurodegeneration through systemic increased innate immune signaling.

In nervous system development, disease and injury, neurons undergo programmed cell death, leaving behind cell corpses that are removed by phagocytic glia. Altered glial phagocytosis has been implicated in several neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and traumatic brain injury. To untangle the links between glial phagocytosis and neurodegeneration, we investigated mutants lacking the phagocytic receptor Draper.