On January 4, the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) had the honor of hosting Helmut Kettenmann, Senior Professor at the Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Member of the German Academy of Sciences, and Chair Professor of the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Invited by Xue-Jun SONG, Professor and Director of the Department of Medical Neuroscience at SUSTech, Professor Kettenmann engaged with faculty members and students from the University as a speaker at the SUSTech Lecture Series and the 41^st SUSTech Medical Neuroscience Seminar.

During his lecture, Professor Kettenmann delved into the intricate world of glial cells, shedding light on their biological functions and research evolution focusing on microglia.

Recognized as one of the pioneers in glial cell research, Professor Kettenmann’s team made groundbreaking discoveries, revealing that microglia responds to heightened neuronal activity. Importantly, this microglial response is not dependent on postsynaptic activity but on the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic.

Furthermore, he provided valuable insights into the role of microglia in various diseases, offering a comprehensive understanding to the faulty members and students in attendance.

In the Q&A session that followed the lecture, Professor Kettenmann engaged in insightful discussions. Topics ranged from exploring the parallels and differences between microglia and macrophages to understanding the renewal rate of microglia under physiological and pathological conditions. The influence of calcium signaling in microglia on their diverse functions was also a focus of the dialogue.