Fig. 3.

Microglia damage to neurons after encephalitis leads to neurological complications in survivors. Activated microglia are highly phagocytic and express many components of the complement pathway. Aggregation of complement components on neurons is sensed by complement receptor 3 (CR3), which is expressed by microglia. This activation leads to phagocytosis and synaptic stripping of neurons. Interferon gamma receptor (IFNgR) signaling in microglia regulates neuronal synaptic stripping upon the induction of viral encephalitis. The role of purinergic receptors, Peli1 and other cytokines in synaptic stripping is not known