The Kettenmann lab has been studying the functions of all the three major types of glial cells in the brain, the astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglial cells. One goal is to analyze how astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are connected via gap junctions to form a panglial network and how this network influences neuronal function in the white and in the grey matter. A major focus of the lab is on the role of microglial cells in the normal and in the pathologic brain. The Kettenmann team found that microglial cells can express classical neurotransmitter receptors formerly considered to be a hallmark of neurons. Activation of these receptors influences microglial functions. Within the context of pathology they are currently studying the importance of microglial cells in stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and psychiatric diseases. Another line of research addresses the question how microglia interact with glioma cells. They aim to understand this interaction on a molecular level with the goal to identify therapeutic targets.