MotiQ: an open-source toolbox to quantify the cell motility and morphology of microglia.

Microglia are the primary resident innate immune cells of the CNS. They possess branched, motile cell processes that are important for their cellular functions. To study the pathways that control microglial morphology and motility under physiological and disease conditions, it is necessary to quantify microglial morphology and motility precisely and reliably.

Quantified CSF antibody reactivity against myelin in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Synthesis of clonal IgG is a consistent feature of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Whether oligoclonal bands (OCBs) represent unspecific disease bystanders or active components in MS pathology is an open question. The aim of this study was to develop a method to quantify and compare the reactivity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies from patients with and without MS.

Assessing β-amyloid-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in primary microglia.

Senile plaques are an important histological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. They mainly consist of the fibrillar peptide β-amyloid (Aβ) and are surrounded by activated microglia and astrocytes. Microglia in the vicinity of senile plaques express high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic substances, which are believed to influence disease progression.

Toll-like receptor activation reveals developmental reorganization and unmasks responder subsets of microglia.

The sentinel and immune functions of microglia require rapid and appropriate reactions to infection and damage. Their Toll-like receptors (TLRs) sense both as threats. However, whether activated microglia mount uniform responses or whether subsets conduct selective tasks is unknown.

Selective transfer of exosomes from oligodendrocytes to microglia by macropinocytosis.

The transfer of antigens from oligodendrocytes to immune cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Here, we show that oligodendrocytes secrete small membrane vesicles called exosomes, which are specifically and efficiently taken up by microglia both in vitro and in vivo. Internalisation of exosomes occurs by a macropinocytotic mechanism without inducing a concomitant inflammatory response.