Causes of microcephaly in human-theoretical considerations

As is evident from the theme of the Research Topic Small Size, Big Problem: Understanding the Molecular Orchestra of Brain Development from Microcephaly, the pathomechanisms leading to mirocephaly in human are at best partially understood. As molecular cell biologists and developmental neurobiologists, we present here a treatise with theoretical considerations that systematically dissect possible causes of microcephaly, which we believe is timely. Our considerations address the cell types affected in microcephaly, that is, the cortical stem and progenitor cells as well as the neurons and macroglial cell generated therefrom. We discuss issues such as progenitor cell types, cell lineages, modes of cell division, cell proliferation and cell survival. We support our theoretical considerations by discussing selected examples of factual cases of microcephaly, in order to point out that there is a much larger range of possible pathomechanisms leading to microcephaly in human than currently known.

Automated summary

The pathomechanisms leading to microcephaly in humans are only partially understood. In this article, molecular cell biologists and developmental neurobiologists provide a theoretical analysis of possible causes of microcephaly. They discuss the types of cells affected, such as cortical stem cells, progenitor cells, neurons, and macroglial cells. They support their theoretical considerations with examples of factual cases, highlighting the wide range of pathomechanisms that can lead to microcephaly in humans.