Synapse weakening-induced caspase-3 activity confers specificity to microglia-mediated synapse elimination

Abstract During brain development, synapses are initially formed in excess and are later eliminated in an activity-dependent manner, with weak synapses being preferentially removed. Previous studies identified glia as mediators of synapse removal, but it is unclear how glia specifically target weak synapses. Here we show that, in the developing mouse visual pathway, inhibiting synaptic transmission induces postsynaptic activation of caspase-3. Caspase-3 is essential for synapse elimination driven by both spontaneous and experience-dependent neural activity. Synapse weakening-induced caspase-3 activation determines the specificity of synapse elimination mediated by microglia but not astrocytes. Furthermore, in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, caspase-3 deficiency protects against synapse loss induced by amyloid-β deposition. Our results reveal caspase-3 activation as a key step in activity-dependent synapse elimination during development and synapse loss in neurodegeneration.