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Resting Microglial Cells Are Highly Dynamic Surveillants of Brain Parenchyma in Vivo
Axel Nimmerjahn, Frank Kirchhoff, Fritjof Helmchen. Science, 2005-04-14
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Microglial cells represent the immune system of the mammalian brain and therefore are critically involved in various injuries and diseases. Little is known about their role in the healthy brain and their immediate reaction to brain damage. By using in vivo two-photon imaging in neocortex, we found that microglial cells are highly active in their presumed resting state, continually surveying their microenvironment with extremely motile processes and protrusions. Furthermore, blood-brain barrier disruption provoked immediate and focal activation of microglia, switching their behavior from patroling to shielding of the injured site. Microglia thus are busy and vigilant housekeepers in the adult brain.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Nimmerjahn, A., Kirchhoff, F., & Helmchen, F. (2005). Resting Microglial Cells Are Highly Dynamic Surveillants of Brain Parenchyma in Vivo. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1110647
Vancouver
Nimmerjahn A, Kirchhoff F, Helmchen F. Resting Microglial Cells Are Highly Dynamic Surveillants of Brain Parenchyma in Vivo. Science. 2005. doi:10.1126/science.1110647. PMID: 15831717.
BibTeX
@article{nimmerjahn2005-15831717,
author = {Nimmerjahn, Axel and Kirchhoff, Frank and Helmchen, Fritjof},
title = {{Resting Microglial Cells Are Highly Dynamic Surveillants of Brain Parenchyma in Vivo}},
journal = {Science},
year = {2005},
doi = {10.1126/science.1110647},
pmid = {15831717},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1110647}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Why it matters
Live imaging showed that microglia, the immune cells of the brain, constantly survey their surroundings even in their presumed resting state. Damage to the blood-brain barrier made them switch quickly to shielding the injured site.
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a top-tier journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on strength of evidence, so that was left out: it earned 53 of the 95 points we could judge it on, which is 56 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 10 / 10 | Tier 1 — top-tier general journal (Science) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Science: journal h-index 1,754 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | — / 5 | No evidence rating recorded — left out of this score |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2005 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 5,810 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 252.6 citations a year over 23 year(s) since 2005 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 55.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 939 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Fritjof Helmchen: h-index 75 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Max Planck Institute for Medical Research: institution h-index 442 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15831717) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 53 / 95 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 53 of the 95 points we could judge it on is 56 out of 100. |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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