Tolling of a Bell at a Neuron’s Death

Clearance of cellular debris is a process required to maintain tissue homeostasis. In this issue of Developmental Cell,McLaughlin et al. (2019) demonstrate that neuronal apoptosis non-autonomously activates the non-canonical Toll-like receptor signaling in cortex glia, priming their capacity to engulf apoptotic neurons and regulating maintenance of a healthy brain. Clearance of cellular debris is a process required to maintain tissue homeostasis. In this issue of Developmental Cell, McLaughlin et al. (2019) demonstrate that neuronal apoptosis non-autonomously activates the non-canonical Toll-like receptor signaling in cortex glia, priming their capacity to engulf apoptotic neurons and regulating maintenance of a healthy brain.