Microglia depletion alleviates the disruptions in circadian rhythms and anxiety caused by bmal1 deficiency

May 29, 2026Brain, behavior, & immunity - health

Removing immune brain cells helps fix daily rhythm and anxiety problems caused by bmal1 deficiency

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Abstract

Disruptions in circadian rhythms were observed in bmal-/- mice, characterized by increased microglia numbers.

  • Microglial activation was associated with altered activity patterns in bmal-/- mice.
  • Inhibition of microglia using PLX5622 improved behavioral performance in bmal-/- mice during specific tests.
  • Microglia inhibition restored structural and functional abnormalities in neurons of bmal-/- mice.
  • Dendritic spine reduction and impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) were observed in bmal-/- mice.
  • Normalization of proinflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β and TNF-α) occurred following PLX5622 treatment.

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