Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40938932›Full record

ArticlePLoS biology2025

Microglial deficiency in the ATRX chromatin remodeler elicits a viral mimicry immune response that impacts neuronal function and behavior.

Sarfraz Shafiq, Alireza Ghahramani, Kasha Mansour, Miguel Pena-Ortiz, Julia K Sunstrum, Milica Pavlovic, Yan Jiang, Megan E Rowland, Wataru Inoue, Nathalie G Bérubé

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sarfraz ShafiqDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
Alireza GhahramaniDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
Kasha MansourDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
Miguel Pena-OrtizDepartment of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
Julia K SunstrumGraduate Program in Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
Milica PavlovicDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
Yan JiangDepartment of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
Megan E RowlandDepartment of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
Wataru InoueGraduate Program in Neuroscience, Western University, London, Canada.
Nathalie G BérubéDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.

Funding

Children’s Health FoundationCIHRDepartment of Paediatrics at Western University
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The importance of chromatin-mediated processes in neurodevelopmental and intellectual disability disorders is well recognized. However, how chromatin dysregulation in glial cells impacts cognitive abilities is less well understood. Here, we demonstrate that targeted loss of the ATRX chromatin remodeler targeted to microglia leads to altered cell morphology, increased chromatin accessibility profiles, and de-repression of endogenous retroelements, triggering viral mimicry. In mice that lack ATRX in microglia, CA1 hippocampal neuron morphology and electrophysiological properties are affected, and the mice display specific behavioral deficits. These findings demonstrate that ATRX is required in microglia to preserve chromatin structure and maintain microglial homeostasis. Disruption of these functions elicits neuroinflammation and may contribute to the pathology of human neurological disorders caused by ATRX mutations.

Indexed as

Chromatin Assembly and DisassemblyMicrogliaNeuronsX-linked Nuclear ProteinAnimalsBehavior, AnimalCA1 Region, HippocampalChromatinMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutAtrx protein, mouseChromatinX-linked Nuclear Protein

Identifiers

PMID40938932
PMCPMC12445524

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.