AUTHOR=Wolf Yochai , Yona Simon , Kim Ki-Wook , Jung Steffen 

TITLE=Microglia, seen from the CX3CR1 angle

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2013

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncel.2013.00026

DOI=10.3389/fncel.2013.00026

ISSN=1662-5102

ABSTRACT=<p>Microglial cells in brain and spinal cord are characterized by high expression of the chemokine receptor CX<sub>3</sub>CR1. Expression of the sole CX<sub>3</sub>CR1 ligand, the membrane-tethered and sheddable chemokine CX<sub>3</sub>CL1/fractalkine, is restricted in the brain parenchyma to selected neurons. Here we summarize our current understanding of the physiological role of CX<sub>3</sub>CR1 for microglia function and the CX<sub>3</sub>C axis in microglial/neuronal crosstalk in homeostasis and under challenge. Moreover, we will discuss the efforts of our laboratory and others to exploit CX<sub>3</sub>CR1 promoter activity for the visualization and genetic manipulation of microglia to probe their functional contributions in the central nerve system (CNS) context.</p>