Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
06:40
Mitochondrial Preparation from Microglia for Glycan Analysis
Published on: May 30, 2025
Activity-dependent protein synthesis in neurons requires microglial-metabolic coupling
Drew Adler1, Alejandro Martín-Ávila2, Evan Cheng3
1Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA; Department of Neuroscience, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Cell Metabolism
|June 4, 2026
Summary
Microglia (brain immune cells) are crucial for linking brain cells and managing energy demands for memory formation. They release a protein that boosts glucose uptake in active neurons, supporting protein synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Metabolism
Background:
- Long-lasting memory and synaptic plasticity depend on new protein synthesis, which is metabolically demanding.
- The brain cell types and mechanisms sensing and responding to this increased metabolic demand are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of microglia in mediating metabolic coupling for neuronal protein synthesis in the brain.
- To identify the specific mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in this neuroimmune metabolic circuit.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a motor task in mice to induce metabolic demand.
- Investigated the effects of microglia depletion and CYR61 signaling blockade on neuronal protein synthesis and metabolic fluxes.
- Analyzed microglial responses, including the secretion of hypoxia-responsive protein CYR61.
Main Results:
- Microglia are essential for metabolic coupling between endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons, supporting protein synthesis in active neurons.
- Increased metabolic demand stimulates microglia to secrete CYR61, enhancing glucose transporter expression in brain vasculature.
- Microglia depletion or CYR61 signaling blockade impairs training-induced metabolic fluxes and neuronal protein synthesis.
Conclusions:
- A novel neuroimmune metabolic circuit involving microglia, CYR61, and brain vasculature is critical for on-demand protein synthesis in the mouse motor cortex.
- This circuit plays a key role in supporting the metabolic requirements of learning and memory consolidation.
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