Call to action The developing brain initially makes more synapses than it needs. With further development, excess synapses are pruned away, leaving mature circuits. Synapses can be eliminated by microglia, which engulf and destroy them. Vainchtein et al. found that the microglia are called into action by astrocytes, supportive cells on which neurons rely. Astrocytes near a redundant synapse release the cytokine interleukin-33 (IL-33), which recruits microglia to the site. In mice, disruptions in this process, as caused by deficiency in IL-33, led to too many excitatory synapses and overactive brain circuitry. Science , this issue p. 1269

Astrocyte-derived interleukin-33 promotes microglial synapse engulfment and neural circuit development