C1ql2 gates stress vulnerability by regulating microglia-mediated synaptic pruning in the BLA-vHPC circuit.

C1ql2 regulates stress vulnerability by controlling microglia-mediated synaptic pruning in BLA→vHPC neurons, with its downregulation linked to increased anxiety-like behavior.

• Why it matters: Understanding molecular mechanisms of synaptic remodeling in emotional circuits is crucial because such changes contribute to stress-related emotional disorders, yet remain poorly understood.
• What they did: The study used transcriptional profiling, gain- and loss-of-function manipulations, and examined neuronal and microglial responses in BLA→vHPC projection neurons, focusing on C1ql2 expression and function.
• The result: Loss of C1ql2 following chronic social defeat stress impairs microglial synaptic engulfment, leading to synaptic accumulation and increased circuit vulnerability, highlighting C1ql2’s role in stress-related synaptic regulation.