There is evidence that microglial phagocytosis is more powerful in the anti-inflammatory state.

Independent characterization revealed that Rcn1 stimulated microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic but not healthy neurons.

Here we demonstrate that microglial phagocytosis ligands can be systematically identified by a new approach of functional screening.

The occurrence of microglial phagocytosis at early stages of apoptosis may indicate the evolution of apoptosis into an irreversible state.

The new approach described in this study will enable systematic identification of microglial phagocytosis ligands with broad applicability to many other phagocytes.