Microglia: Same same, but different.
Kierdorf K, Prinz M.
J Exp Med. 2019;216(10):2223-2225.
Microglial identity in the central nervous system (CNS) is dependent on colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) signaling and its ligands IL-34 and colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1). In this issue of JEM, Kana et al. (https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20182037) make the important discovery that CSF-1, but not IL-34, orchestrates cerebellar microglial homeostasis in mice, and its deficiency resulted in severe cerebellar dysfunctions accompanied by defects in motor function and social behavior.