Immunohistochemical localization of macrophages and microglia in the adult and developing mouse brain

Impacts of age and environment on postnatal microglial activity: Consequences for cognitive function following early life adversity

Early life adversity (ELA) increases the likelihood of later-life neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive dysfunction. Importantly, ELA, neuropsychiatric disorders, and cognitive deficits all involve aberrant immune signaling. Microglia are the primary neuroimmune cells and regulate brain development. Microglia are particularly sensitive to early life insults, which can program their responses to future challenges. ELA in the form of maternal separation (MS) in rats alters later-life microglial morphology and the inflammatory profile of the prefrontal cortex, a region important for cognition. However, the role of microglial responses during MS in the development of later cognition is not known. Therefore, here we aimed to determine whether the presence of microglia during MS mediates long-term impacts on adult working memory. Clodronate liposomes were used to transiently deplete microglia from the brain, while empty liposomes were used as a control. We hypothesized that if microglia mediate the long-term impacts of ELA on working memory in adulthood, then depleting microglia during MS would prevent these deficits. Importantly, microglial function shifts throughout the neonatal period, so an exploratory investigation assessed whether depletion during the early versus late neonatal period had different effects on adult working memory. Surprisingly, empty liposome treatment during the early, but not late, postnatal period induced microglial activity changes that compounded with MS to impair working memory in females. In contrast, microglial depletion later in infancy impaired later life working memory in females, suggesting that microglial function during late infancy plays an important role in the development of cognitive function. Together, these findings suggest that microglia shift their sensitivity to early life insults across development. Our findings also highlight the potential for MS to impact some developmental processes only when compounded with additional neuroimmune challenges in a sex-dependent manner.

Systematic development of immunohistochemistry protocol for large cryosections-specific to non-perfused fetal brain

BACKGROUND

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an important technique in understanding the expression of neurochemical molecules in the developing human brain. Despite its routine application in the research and clinical setup, the IHC protocol specific for soft fragile fetal brains that are fixed using the non-perfusion method is still limited in studying the whole brain.

NEW METHOD

This study shows that the IHC protocols, using a chromogenic detection system, used in animals and adult humans are not optimal in the fetal brains. We have optimized key steps from Antigen retrieval (AR) to chromogen visualization for formalin-fixed whole-brain cryosections (20 µm) mounted on glass slides.

RESULTS

We show the results from six validated, commonly used antibodies to study the fetal brain. We achieved optimal antigen retrieval with 0.1 M Boric Acid, pH 9.0 at 70°C for 20 minutes. We also present the optimal incubation duration and temperature for protein blocking and the primary antibody that results in specific antigen labeling with minimal tissue damage.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS

The IHC protocol commonly used for adult human and animal brains results in significant tissue damage in the fetal brains with little or suboptimal antigen expression. Our new method with important modifications including the temperature, duration, and choice of the alkaline buffer for AR addresses these pitfalls and provides high-quality results.

CONCLUSION

The optimized IHC protocol for the developing human brain (13-22 GW) provides a high-quality, repeatable, and reliable method for studying chemoarchitecture in neurotypical and pathological conditions across different gestational ages.

Exploring Chinese herbal medicine for ischemic stroke: insights into microglia and signaling pathways

Ischemic stroke is a prevalent clinical condition affecting the central nervous system, characterized by a high mortality and disability rate. Its incidence is progressively rising, particularly among younger individuals, posing a significant threat to human well-being. The activation and polarization of microglia, leading to pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses, are widely recognized as pivotal factors in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCHMs) boasts a rich historical background, notable efficacy, and minimal adverse effects. It exerts its effects by modulating microglia activation and polarization, suppressing inflammatory responses, and ameliorating nerve injury through the mediation of microglia and various associated pathways (such as NF-κB signaling pathway, Toll-like signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, among others). Consequently, this article focuses on microglia as a therapeutic target, reviewing relevant pathway of literature on TCHMs to mitigate neuroinflammation and mediate IS injury, while also exploring research on drug delivery of TCHMs. The ultimate goal is to provide new insights that can contribute to the clinical management of IS using TCHMs.

Developmental Associations between Neurovascularization and Microglia Colonization

The temporal and spatial pattern of microglia colonization and vascular infiltration of the nervous system implies critical associated roles in early stages of nervous system development. Adding to existing reviews that cover a broad spectrum of the various roles of microglia during brain development, the current review will focus on the developmental ontogeny and interdependency between the colonization of the nervous system with yolk sac derived macrophages and vascularization. Gaining a better understanding of the timing and the interdependency of these two processes will significantly contribute to the interpretation of data generated regarding alterations in either process during early development. Additionally, such knowledge should provide a framework for understanding the influence of the early gestational environmental and the impact of genetics, disease, disorders, or exposures on the early developing nervous system and the potential for long-term and life-time effects.

Somatic cancer driver mutations are enriched and associated with inflammatory states in Alzheimer's disease microglia

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive neuronal loss and pathological accumulation of the misfolded proteins amyloid-β and tau1,2. Neuroinflammation mediated by microglia and brain-resident macrophages plays a crucial role in AD pathogenesis1-5, though the mechanisms by which age, genes, and other risk factors interact remain largely unknown. Somatic mutations accumulate with age and lead to clonal expansion of many cell types, contributing to cancer and many non-cancer diseases6,7. Here we studied somatic mutation in normal aged and AD brains by three orthogonal methods and in three independent AD cohorts. Analysis of bulk RNA sequencing data from 866 samples from different brain regions revealed significantly higher (~two-fold) overall burdens of somatic single-nucleotide variants (sSNVs) in AD brains compared to age-matched controls. Molecular-barcoded deep (>1000X) gene panel sequencing of 311 prefrontal cortex samples showed enrichment of sSNVs and somatic insertions and deletions (sIndels) in cancer driver genes in AD brain compared to control, with recurrent, and often multiple, mutations in genes implicated in clonal hematopoiesis (CH)8,9. Pathogenic sSNVs were enriched in CSF1R+ microglia of AD brains, and the high proportion of microglia (up to 40%) carrying some sSNVs in cancer driver genes suggests mutation-driven microglial clonal expansion (MiCE). Analysis of single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) from temporal neocortex of 62 additional AD cases and controls exhibited nominally increased mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs) associated with CH10,11. Microglia carrying mCA showed upregulated pro-inflammatory genes, resembling the transcriptomic features of disease-associated microglia (DAM) in AD. Our results suggest that somatic driver mutations in microglia are common with normal aging but further enriched in AD brain, driving MiCE with inflammatory and DAM signatures. Our findings provide the first insights into microglial clonal dynamics in AD and identify potential new approaches to AD diagnosis and therapy.

The inflammatory response to birth requires MyD88 and is driven by both mother and offspring

Birth is an inflammatory event for the newborn, characterized by elevations in interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α peripherally and/or centrally, as well as changes in brain microglia. However, the mechanism(s) underlying these responses is unknown. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play crucial roles in innate immunity and initiate inflammatory cascades upon recognition of endogenous or exogenous antigens. Most TLR signaling depends on the adaptor molecule myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88). We independently varied MyD88 gene status in mouse dams and their offspring to determine whether the inflammatory response to birth depends on MyD88 signaling and, if so, whether that signaling occurs in the offspring, the mother, or both. We find that the perinatal surges in plasma IL-6 and brain expression of TNF-α depend solely on MyD88 gene status of the offspring, whereas postnatal increases in plasma IL-10 and TNF-α depend on MyD88 in both the pup and dam. Interestingly, MyD88 genotype of the dam primarily drives differences in offspring brain microglial density and has robust effects on developmental neuronal cell death. Milk cytokines were evaluated as a possible source of postnatal maternal influence; although we found high levels of CXCL1/GROα and several other cytokines in ingested post-partum milk, their presence did not require MyD88. Thus, the inflammatory response previously described in the late-term fetus and newborn depends on MyD88 (and, by extension, TLRs), with signaling in both the dam and offspring contributing. Unexpectedly, naturally-occuring neuronal cell death in the newborn is modulated primarily by maternal MyD88 gene status.

Microglial Senescence and Activation in Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Disease: Systematic Review and Neuropathological Scoring

The greatest risk factor for neurodegeneration is the aging of the multiple cell types of human CNS, among which microglia are important because they are the "sentinels" of internal and external perturbations and have long lifespans. We aim to emphasize microglial signatures in physiologic brain aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). A systematic literature search of all published articles about microglial senescence in human healthy aging and AD was performed, searching for PubMed and Scopus online databases. Among 1947 articles screened, a total of 289 articles were assessed for full-text eligibility. Microglial transcriptomic, phenotypic, and neuropathological profiles were analyzed comprising healthy aging and AD. Our review highlights that studies on animal models only partially clarify what happens in humans. Human and mice microglia are hugely heterogeneous. Like a two-sided coin, microglia can be protective or harmful, depending on the context. Brain health depends upon a balance between the actions and reactions of microglia maintaining brain homeostasis in cooperation with other cell types (especially astrocytes and oligodendrocytes). During aging, accumulating oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction weaken microglia leading to dystrophic/senescent, otherwise over-reactive, phenotype-enhancing neurodegenerative phenomena. Microglia are crucial for managing Aβ, pTAU, and damaged synapses, being pivotal in AD pathogenesis.

Exploring the Role of Neuroplasticity in Development, Aging, and Neurodegeneration

Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the brain to reorganize and modify its neural connections in response to environmental stimuli, experience, learning, injury, and disease processes. It encompasses a range of mechanisms, including changes in synaptic strength and connectivity, the formation of new synapses, alterations in the structure and function of neurons, and the generation of new neurons. Neuroplasticity plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining brain function, including learning and memory, as well as in recovery from brain injury and adaptation to environmental changes. In this review, we explore the vast potential of neuroplasticity in various aspects of brain function across the lifespan and in the context of disease. Changes in the aging brain and the significance of neuroplasticity in maintaining cognitive function later in life will also be reviewed. Finally, we will discuss common mechanisms associated with age-related neurodegenerative processes (including protein aggregation and accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation) and how these processes can be mitigated, at least partially, by non-invasive and non-pharmacologic lifestyle interventions aimed at promoting and harnessing neuroplasticity.

Periventricular Microglia Polarization and Morphological Changes Accompany NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Neuroinflammation after Hypoxic-Ischemic White Matter Damage in Premature Rats

White matter damage (WMD) is a primary cause of cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment in preterm infants, and no effective treatments are available. Microglia are a major component of the innate immune system. When activated, they form typical pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes and regulate myelin development and synapse formation. Therefore, they may play a pivotal role in hypoxic-ischemic (HI) WMD. Herein, we investigated neural inflammation and long-term microglia phenotypic polarization in a neonatal rat model of hypoxia-ischemia-induced WMD and elucidated the underlying pathophysiological processes. We exposed 3-day-old (P3) Sprague-Dawley rats to hypoxia (8% oxygen) for 2.5 hr after unilateral common carotid artery ligation. The activation of NLRP3 inflammatory bodies, microglia M1/M2 polarization, myelination, and synaptic development in our model were monitored 7, 14, and 21 days after birth. In addition, the Morris water maze test was performed on postnatal Day 28. We confirmed myelination disturbance in the periventricular white matter, abnormal synaptic development, and behavioral changes in the periventricular area during the development of HI WMD. In addition, we found an association between the occurrence and development of HI WMD and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, microglial M1/M2 polarization, and the release of inflammatory factors. NLRP3 inhibition can play an anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting the differentiation of microglia into the M1 phenotype, thereby improving myelination and synapse formation. In conclusion, microglia are key mediators of the inflammatory response and exhibit continuous phenotypic polarization 7-21 days after HI-induced WMD. This finding can potentially lead to a new treatment regimen targeting the phenotypic polarization of microglia early after HI-induced brain injury.

Mechanisms of Microglia Proliferation in a Rat Model of Facial Nerve Anatomy

Although microglia exist as a minor glial cell type in the normal state of the brain, they increase in number in response to various disorders and insults. However, it remains unclear whether microglia proliferate in the affected area, and the mechanism of the proliferation has long attracted the attention of researchers. We analyzed microglial mitosis using a facial nerve transection model in which the blood-brain barrier is left unimpaired when the nerves are axotomized. Our results showed that the levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), cFms (the receptor for M-CSF), cyclin A/D, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were increased in microglia in the axotomized facial nucleus (axotFN). In vitro experiments revealed that M-CSF induced cFms, cyclin A/D, and PCNA in microglia, suggesting that microglia proliferate in response to M-CSF in vivo. In addition, M-CSF caused the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, and the specific inhibitors of JNK and p38 arrested the microglial mitosis. JNK and p38 were shown to play roles in the induction of cyclins/PCNA and cFms, respectively. cFms was suggested to be induced through a signaling cascade of p38-mitogen- and stress-activated kinase-1 (MSK1)-cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) and/or p38-activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2). Microglia proliferating in the axotFN are anticipated to serve as neuroprotective cells by supplying neurotrophic factors and/or scavenging excite toxins and reactive oxygen radicals.

Early-onset brain alterations during postnatal development in a mouse model of CDKL5 deficiency disorder

Mutations in the CDKL5 gene are the cause of CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a rare and severe neurodevelopmental condition characterized by early-onset epilepsy, motor impairment, intellectual disability, and autistic features. A mouse model of CDD, the Cdkl5 KO mouse, that recapitulates several aspects of CDD symptomology, has helped to highlight brain alterations leading to CDD neurological defects. Studies of brain morphogenesis in adult Cdkl5 KO mice showed defects in dendritic arborization of pyramidal neurons and in synaptic connectivity, a hypocellularity of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and a generalized microglia over-activation. Nevertheless, no studies are available regarding the presence of these brain alterations in Cdkl5 KO pups, and their severity in early stages of life compared to adulthood. A deeper understanding of the CDKL5 deficient brain during an early phase of postnatal development would represent an important milestone for further validation of the CDD mouse model, and for the identification of the optimum time window for treatments that target defects in brain development. In sight of this, we comparatively evaluated the dendritic arborization and spines of cortical pyramidal neurons, cortical excitatory and inhibitory connectivity, microglia activation, and proliferation and survival of granule cells of the hippocampal dentate gyrus in hemizygous Cdkl5 KO male (-/Y) mice aged 7, 14, 21, and 60 days. We found that most of the structural alterations in Cdkl5 -/Y brains are already present in pups aged 7 days and do not worsen with age. In contrast, the difference in the density of excitatory and inhibitory terminals between Cdkl5 -/Y and wild-type mice changes with age, suggesting an age-dependent cortical excitatory/inhibitory synaptic imbalance. Confirming the precocious presence of brain defects, Cdkl5 -/Y pups are characterized by an impairment in neonatal sensory-motor reflexes.

Origin and Emergence of Microglia in the CNS-An Interesting (Hi)story of an Eccentric Cell

Microglia belong to tissue-resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS), representing the primary innate immune cells. This cell type constitutes ~7% of non-neuronal cells in the mammalian brain and has a variety of biological roles integral to homeostasis and pathophysiology from the late embryonic to adult brain. Its unique identity that distinguishes its "glial" features from tissue-resident macrophages resides in the fact that once entering the CNS, it is perennially exposed to a unique environment following the formation of the blood-brain barrier. Additionally, tissue-resident macrophage progenies derive from various peripheral sites that exhibit hematopoietic potential, and this has resulted in interpretation issues surrounding their origin. Intensive research endeavors have intended to track microglial progenitors during development and disease. The current review provides a corpus of recent evidence in an attempt to disentangle the birthplace of microglia from the progenitor state and underlies the molecular elements that drive microgliogenesis. Furthermore, it caters towards tracking the lineage spatiotemporally during embryonic development and outlining microglial repopulation in the mature CNS. This collection of data can potentially shed light on the therapeutic potential of microglia for CNS perturbations across various levels of severity.

Identification and Characterization of TMEM119-Positive Cells in the Postnatal and Adult Murine Cochlea

Transmembrane protein 119 (TMEM119) is expressed in a subset of resident macrophage cells of the brain and was proposed as a marker for native brain microglia. The presence of cells expressing TMEM119 in the cochlea has not yet been described. Thus, the present study aimed to characterize the TMEM119-expressing cells of the postnatal and adult cochlea, the latter also after noise exposure. Immunofluorescent staining of cochlear cryosections detected TMEM119 protein in the spiral limbus fibrocytes and the developing stria vascularis at postnatal Day 3. Applying the macrophage marker Iba1 revealed that TMEM119 is not a marker of cochlear macrophages or a subset of them. In the adult murine cochlea, TMEM119 expression was detected in the basal cells of the stria vascularis and the dark mesenchymal cells of the supralimbal zone. Exposure to noise trauma was not associated with a qualitative change in the types or distributions of the TMEM119-expressing cells of the adult cochlea. Western blot analysis indicated a similar TMEM119 protein expression level in the postnatal cochlea and brain tissues. The findings do not support using TMEM119 as a specific microglial or macrophage marker in the cochlea. The precise role of TMEM119 in the cochlea remains to be investigated through functional experiments. TMEM119 expression in the basal cells of the stria vascularis implies a possible role in the gap junction system of the blood–labyrinth barrier and merits further research.

LPS-stimulated microglial cells promote ganglion cell death in organotypic cultures of quail embryo retina

During development microglia colonize the central nervous system (CNS) and play an important role in programmed cell death, not only because of their ability to remove dead cells by phagocytosis, but also because they can promote the death of neuronal and glial cells. To study this process, we used as experimental systems the developing in situ quail embryo retina and organotypic cultures of quail embryo retina explants (QEREs). In both systems, immature microglia show an upregulation of certain inflammatory markers, e.g., inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and nitric oxide (NO) under basal conditions, which can be further enhanced with LPS-treatment. Hence, we investigated in the present study the role of microglia in promoting ganglion cell death during retinal development in QEREs. Results showed that LPS-stimulation of microglia in QEREs increases (i) the percentage of retinal cells with externalized phosphatidylserine, (ii) the frequency of phagocytic contacts between microglial and caspase-3-positive ganglion cells, (iii) cell death in the ganglion cell layer, and (iv) microglial production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, such as NO. Furthermore, iNOS inhibition by L-NMMA decreases cell death of ganglion cells and increases the number of ganglion cells in LPS-treated QEREs. These data demonstrate that LPS-stimulated microglia induce ganglion cell death in cultured QEREs by a NO-dependent mechanism. The fact that phagocytic contacts between microglial and caspase-3-positive ganglion cells increase suggests that this cell death might be mediated by microglial engulfment, although a phagocytosis-independent mechanism cannot be excluded.

TREM2 and Microglia Contribute to the Synaptic Plasticity: from Physiology to Pathology

Synapses are bridges for information transmission in the central nervous system (CNS), and synaptic plasticity is fundamental for the normal function of synapses, contributing substantially to learning and memory. Numerous studies have proven that microglia can participate in the occurrence and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), by regulating synaptic plasticity. In this review, we summarize the main characteristics of synapses and synaptic plasticity under physiological and pathological conditions. We elaborate the origin and development of microglia and the two well-known microglial signaling pathways that regulate synaptic plasticity. We also highlight the unique role of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) in microglia-mediated regulation of synaptic plasticity and its relationship with AD. Finally, we propose four possible ways in which TREM2 is involved in regulating synaptic plasticity. This review will help researchers understand how NDDs develop from the perspective of synaptic plasticity.

Plasma derived extracellular vesicle biomarkers of microglia activation in an experimental stroke model

Chronic microglia activation post-stroke is associated with worse neurological and cognitive outcomes. However, measurement of microglia activation in vivo is currently limited. Plasma derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-specific indicators that may allow for non-invasive measurement of microglia phenotype. The aim of this study was to identify activation-state specific microglia EVs (MEVs) in vitro followed by validation in an experimental stroke model. Following pro-inflammatory activation, MEVs contain the microglia protein TMEM119 alongside increased expression of the Toll-like receptor 4 co-receptor CD14. Immunoprecipitation followed by fluorescent nanoparticle tracking analysis (ONI Nanoimager) was used to confirm the isolation of TMEM119⁺/CD14⁺ EVs from rat plasma. Electron microscopy confirmed that TMEM119 and CD14 localize to the MEV membrane. To model ischemia, plasma was collected from 3-month wildtype Fischer344 rats prior to, 7 and 28 days after endothelin-1 or saline injection into the dorsal right striatum. Fluorescently labelled MEVs were directly measured in the plasma using nanoflow cytometry (Apogee A60 Microplus). We report a significant increase in circulating TMEM119⁺/CD14⁺ EVs 28-days post-stroke in comparison to baseline levels and saline-injected rats, which correlated weakly with stroke volume. TMEM119⁺/MHC-II⁺ EVs were also increased post-stroke in comparison to baseline and saline-injected animals. This study is the first to describe an EV biomarker of activated microglia detected directly in plasma following stroke and represents a future tool for the measurement of microglia activity in vivo.

The complex role of inflammation and gliotransmitters in Parkinson's disease

Our understanding of the role of innate and adaptive immune cell function in brain health and how it goes awry during aging and neurodegenerative diseases is still in its infancy. Inflammation and immunological dysfunction are common components of Parkinson's disease (PD), both in terms of motor and non-motor components of PD. In recent decades, the antiquated notion that the central nervous system (CNS) in disease states is an immune-privileged organ, has been debunked. The immune landscape in the CNS influences peripheral systems, and peripheral immunological changes can alter the CNS in health and disease. Identifying immune and inflammatory pathways that compromise neuronal health and survival is critical in designing innovative and effective strategies to limit their untoward effects on neuronal health.

More than meets the eye: The role of microglia in healthy and diseased retina

Microglia are the main resident immune cells of the nervous system and as such they are involved in multiple roles ranging from tissue homeostasis to response to insults and circuit refinement. While most knowledge about microglia comes from brain studies, some mechanisms have been confirmed for microglia cells in the retina, the light-sensing compartment of the eye responsible for initial processing of visual information. However, several key pieces of this puzzle are still unaccounted for, as the characterization of retinal microglia has long been hindered by the reduced population size within the retina as well as the previous lack of technologies enabling single-cell analyses. Accumulating evidence indicates that the same cell type may harbor a high degree of transcriptional, morphological and functional differences depending on its location within the central nervous system. Thus, studying the roles and signatures adopted specifically by microglia in the retina has become increasingly important. Here, we review the current understanding of retinal microglia cells in physiology and in disease, with particular emphasis on newly discovered mechanisms and future research directions.

Microglia and Status Epilepticus in the Immature Brain

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the Central Nervous System (CNS), which are activated due to brain damage, as part of the neuroinflammatory response. Microglia undergo morphological and biochemical modifications during activation, adopting a pro-inflammatory or an anti-inflammatory state. In the developing brain, status epilepticus (SE) promotes microglia activation that is associated with neuronal injury in some areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, thalamus and amygdala. However, the timing of this activation, the anatomical pattern, and the morphological and biochemical characteristics of microglia in the immature brain are age-dependent and have not been fully characterized. Therefore, this review focuses on the response of microglia to SE and its relationship to neurodegeneration.

A kinase-dead Csf1r mutation associated with adult-onset leukoencephalopathy has a dominant inhibitory impact on CSF1R signalling

Amino acid substitutions in the kinase domain of the human CSF1R gene are associated with autosomal dominant adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP). To model the human disease, we created a disease-associated mutation (pGlu631Lys; E631K) in the mouse Csf1r locus. Homozygous mutation (Csf1rE631K/E631K) phenocopied the Csf1r knockout, with prenatal mortality or severe postnatal growth retardation and hydrocephalus. Heterozygous mutation delayed the postnatal expansion of tissue macrophage populations in most organs. Bone marrow cells from Csf1rE631K/+mice were resistant to CSF1 stimulation in vitro, and Csf1rE631K/+ mice were unresponsive to administration of a CSF1-Fc fusion protein, which expanded tissue macrophage populations in controls. In the brain, microglial cell numbers and dendritic arborisation were reduced in Csf1rE631K/+ mice, as in patients with ALSP. The microglial phenotype is the opposite of microgliosis observed in Csf1r+/- mice. However, we found no evidence of brain pathology or impacts on motor function in aged Csf1rE631K/+ mice. We conclude that heterozygous disease-associated CSF1R mutations compromise CSF1R signalling. We speculate that leukoencephalopathy associated with dominant human CSF1R mutations requires an environmental trigger and/or epistatic interaction with common neurodegenerative disease-associated alleles.

Transmembrane protein 119 is neither a specific nor a reliable marker for microglia

Microglia are the resident innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma. To determine the impact of microglia on disease development and progression in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases, it is essential to distinguish microglia from peripheral macrophages/monocytes, which are eventually equally recruited. It has been suggested that transmembrane protein 119 (TMEM119) serves as a reliable microglia marker that discriminates resident microglia from blood-derived macrophages in the human and murine brain. Here, we investigated the validity of TMEM119 as a microglia marker in four in vivo models (cuprizone intoxication, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), permanent filament middle cerebral artery occlusion (fMCAo), and intracerebral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) injections) as well as post mortem multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissues. In all applied animal models and post mortem MS tissues, we found increased densities of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1⁺ (IBA1⁺ ) cells, paralleled by a significant decrease in TMEM119 expression. In addition, other cell types in peripheral tissues (i.e., follicular dendritic cells and brown adipose tissue) were also found to express TMEM119. In summary, this study demonstrates that TMEM119 is not exclusively expressed by microglia nor does it label all microglia, especially under cellular stress conditions. Since novel transgenic lines have been developed to label microglia using the TMEM119 promotor, downregulation of TMEM119 expression might interfere with the results and should, thus, be considered when working with these transgenic mouse models.

Microglia and Microglia-Like Cells: Similar but Different

Microglia are the tissue-resident macrophages of the central nervous parenchyma. In mammals, microglia are thought to originate from yolk sac precursors and posteriorly maintained through the entire life of the organism. However, the contribution of microglial cells from other sources should also be considered. In addition to “true” or “bona-fide” microglia, which are of embryonic origin, the so-called “microglia-like cells” are hematopoietic cells of bone marrow origin that can engraft the mature brain mainly under pathological conditions. These cells implement great parts of the microglial immune phenotype, but they do not completely adopt the “true microglia” features. Because of their pronounced similarity, true microglia and microglia-like cells are usually considered together as one population. In this review, we discuss the origin and development of these two distinct cell types and their differences. We will also review the factors determining the appearance and presence of microglia-like cells, which can vary among species. This knowledge might contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies aiming at microglial cells for the treatment of diseases in which they are involved, for example neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Distinct trans-placental effects of maternal immune activation by TLR3 and TLR7 agonists: implications for schizophrenia risk

Exposure to infection in utero predisposes towards psychiatric diseases such as autism, depression and schizophrenia in later life. The mechanisms involved are typically studied by administering mimetics of double-stranded (ds) virus or bacterial infection to pregnant rats or mice. The effect of single-stranded (ss) virus mimetics has been largely ignored, despite evidence linking prenatal ss virus exposure with psychiatric disease. Understanding the effects of gestational ss virus exposure has become even more important with recent events. In this study, in pregnant mice, we compare directly the effects, on the maternal blood, placenta and the embryonic brain, of maternal administration of ds-virus mimetic poly I:C (to activate Toll-like receptor 3, TLR3) and ss-virus mimetic resiquimod (to activate TLR7/8). We find that, 4 h after the administration, both poly I:C and resiquimod elevated the levels of IL-6, TNFα, and chemokines including CCL2 and CCL5, in maternal plasma. Both agents also increased placental mRNA levels of IL-6 and IL-10, but only resiquimod increased placental TNFα mRNA. In foetal brain, poly I:C produced no detectable immune-response-related increases, whereas pronounced increases in cytokine (e.g. Il-6, Tnfα) and chemokine (e.g. Ccl2, Ccl5) expression were observed with maternal resiquimod administration. The data show substantial differences between the effect of maternal exposure to a TLR7/8 activator as compared to a TLR3 activator. There are significant implications for future modelling of diseases where maternal ss virus exposure contributes to environmental disease risk in offspring.

Microglia Polarization in Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms and a Potential Therapeutic Target

Neuroinflammation regulated by microglia is one of the important factors involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Activated microglia exhibited phenotypes termed as M1 and M2 phenotypes separately. M1 microglia contribute to the development of inflammation via upregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, while M2 microglia exert anti-inflammation effects through enhancing the expression of anti-inflammation factors. Moreover, M1 and M2 microglia could be mutually transformed under various conditions. Both M1 and M2 microglia are implicated in AD. Amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau are two major components of AD pathological hallmarks, neuritic plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. Both Aβ and hyperphosphorylated tau were involved in microglial activation and subsequent inflammation, which further contribute to neuronal and synaptic loss in AD. In this review, we summarized the roles of M1 and M2 microglia in AD and underlying mechanisms, which will provide an insight into the role of microglia in the pathogenesis of AD and highlight the therapeutic potential of modulating microglia.

The semantics of microglia activation: neuroinflammation, homeostasis, and stress

Microglia are emerging as critical regulators of neuronal function and behavior in nearly every area of neuroscience. Initial reports focused on classical immune functions of microglia in pathological contexts, however, immunological concepts from these studies have been applied to describe neuro-immune interactions in the absence of disease, injury, or infection. Indeed, terms such as 'microglia activation' or 'neuroinflammation' are used ubiquitously to describe changes in neuro-immune function in disparate contexts; particularly in stress research, where these terms prompt undue comparisons to pathological conditions. This creates a barrier for investigators new to neuro-immunology and ultimately hinders our understanding of stress effects on microglia. As more studies seek to understand the role of microglia in neurobiology and behavior, it is increasingly important to develop standard methods to study and define microglial phenotype and function. In this review, we summarize primary research on the role of microglia in pathological and physiological contexts. Further, we propose a framework to better describe changes in microglia1 phenotype and function in chronic stress. This approach will enable more precise characterization of microglia in different contexts, which should facilitate development of microglia-directed therapeutics in psychiatric and neurological disease.

The behavior and functions of embryonic microglia

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system. Microglial progenitors are generated in the yolk sac during the early embryonic stage. Once microglia enter the brain primordium, these cells colonize the structure through migration and proliferation during brain development. Microglia account for a minor population among the total cells that constitute the developing cortex, but they can associate with many surrounding neural lineage cells by extending their filopodia and through their broad migration capacity. Of note, microglia change their distribution in a stage-dependent manner in the developing brain: microglia are homogenously distributed in the pallium in the early and late embryonic stages, whereas these cells are transiently absent from the cortical plate (CP) from embryonic day (E) 15 to E16 and colonize the ventricular zone (VZ), subventricular zone (SVZ), and intermediate zone (IZ). Previous studies have reported that microglia positioned in the VZ/SVZ/IZ play multiple roles in neural lineage cells, such as regulating neurogenesis, cell survival and neuronal circuit formation. In addition to microglial functions in the zones in which microglia are replenished, these cells indirectly contribute to the proper maturation of post-migratory neurons by exiting the CP during the mid-embryonic stage. Overall, microglial time-dependent distributional changes are necessary to provide particular functions that are required in specific regions. This review summarizes recent advances in the understanding of microglial colonization and multifaceted functions in the developing brain, especially focusing on the embryonic stage, and discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying microglial behaviors.

Microglia phagocytose oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and synapses during early postnatal development: implications for white versus gray matter maturation

Emerging roles for microglia in modifying normal brain development continue to provide new perspectives on the functions of this resident immune cell in the brain. While the molecular underpinnings driving microglia's position in regulating developmental programs remain largely an unchartered territory, innate immune signaling lies at the forefront. At least three innate immune receptors expressed on microglia-fractalkine, complement, and triggering receptor expressed on microglia (TREM2)-modulate developmental synaptic pruning to refine brain circuitry. Our laboratory recently published that microglia with a unique amoeboid morphology invade the corpus callosum and engulf oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) during early postnatal development before myelination in a fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1)-dependent manner to modulate ensheathment of axons. Amoeboid microglia are observed in the corpus callosum but not cerebral cortex, and lose their amoeboid shape at the commencement of myelination assuming a resting phenotype. Furthermore, OPCs contacted or engulfed by microglia do not express markers of cell death suggesting a novel homeostatic mechanism facilitating an appropriate OPC:axon ratio for proper myelin ensheathment. The unique morphology of microglia and the restricted window for phagocytic engulfment of OPCs suggest a critical period for OPC engulfment important for action potential propagation during development when activity-dependent mechanisms regulate synaptic pruning. In this review, we summarize the role of activity-dependent mechanisms in sculpting brain circuitry, how myelin ensheathment influences action potential propagation, the spatial and temporal relationship of microglia-dependent elimination of OPCs and synapses, and implications for the synergistic role of microglial phagocytosis in shaping the architecture for neuronal function.

HIV-Associated Apathy/Depression and Neurocognitive Impairments Reflect Persistent Dopamine Deficits

Individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are often plagued by debilitating neurocognitive impairments and affective alterations;the pathophysiology underlying these deficits likely includes dopaminergic system dysfunction. The present review utilized four interrelated aims to critically examine the evidence for dopaminergic alterations following HIV-1 viral protein exposure. First, basal dopamine (DA) values are dependent upon both brain region andexperimental approach (i.e., high-performance liquid chromatography, microdialysis or fast-scan cyclic voltammetry). Second, neurochemical measurements overwhelmingly support decreased DA concentrations following chronic HIV-1 viral protein exposure. Neurocognitive impairments, including alterations in pre-attentive processes and attention, as well as apathetic behaviors, provide an additional line of evidence for dopaminergic deficits in HIV-1. Third, to date, there is no compelling evidence that combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the primary treatment regimen for HIV-1 seropositive individuals, has any direct pharmacological action on the dopaminergic system. Fourth, the infection of microglia by HIV-1 viral proteins may mechanistically underlie the dopamine deficit observed following chronic HIV-1 viral protein exposure. An inclusive and critical evaluation of the literature, therefore, supports the fundamental conclusion that long-term HIV-1 viral protein exposure leads to a decreased dopaminergic state, which continues to persist despite the advent of cART. Thus, effective treatment of HIV-1-associated apathy/depression and neurocognitive impairments must focus on strategies for rectifying decreases in dopamine function.

Role of Infection and Immunity in Bovine Perinatal Mortality: Part 2. Fetomaternal Response to Infection and Novel Diagnostic Perspectives

Simple Summary

Bovine perinatal mortality (death of the fetus or calf before, during, or within 48 h of calving at full term (≥260 days) may be caused by noninfectious and infectious causes. Although infectious causes of fetal mortality are diagnosed less frequently, infection in utero may also compromise the development of the fetus without causing death. This review presents fetomaternal responses to infection and the changes which can be observed in such cases. Response to infection, especially the concentration of immunoglobulins and some acute-phase proteins, may be used for diagnostic purposes. Some changes in internal organs may also be used as an indicator of infection in utero. However, in all cases (except pathogen-specific antibody response) non-pathogen-specific responses do not aid in pathogen-specific diagnosis of the cause of calf death. But, nonspecific markers of in utero infection may allow us to assign the cause of fetal mortality to infection and thus increase our overall diagnosis rate, particularly in cases of the “unexplained stillbirth”.

Abstract

Bovine perinatal mortality due to infection may result either from the direct effects of intrauterine infection and/or the fetal response to such infection, leading to the fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS). Both intrauterine infection and FIRS, which causes multi-organ damage and involution of immune organs, compromise fetal survivability, sometimes fatally. Organ injury associated with FIRS may, in addition to causing fetal mortality, irreversibly compromise extrauterine adaptation of the neonate, a recognized problem in human fetuses. Diagnosis of intrauterine infection and of FIRS requires related, but independent analytical approaches. In addition to detection of pathogens, the immune and inflammatory responses of the bovine fetus may be utilized to diagnose intrauterine infection. This can be done by detection of specific changes in internal organs and the measurement of antibodies and/or elements of the acute phase reaction. Currently our ability to diagnose FIRS in bovine fetuses and neonates is limited to research studies. This review focuses on both the fetomaternal response to infection and diagnostic methods which rely on the response of the fetus to infection and inflammatory changes, as well other methods which may improve diagnosis of intrauterine infection in cases of bovine perinatal mortality.

Senescent Microglia: The Key to the Ageing Brain?

Ageing represents the single biggest risk factor for development of neurodegenerative disease. Despite being such long-lived cells, microglia have been relatively understudied for their role in the ageing process. Reliably identifying aged microglia has proven challenging, not least due to the diversity of cell populations, and the limitations of available models, further complicated by differences between human and rodent cells. Consequently, the literature contains multiple descriptions and categorisations of microglia with neurotoxic phenotypes, including senescence, without any unifying markers. The role of microglia in brain homeostasis, particularly iron storage and metabolism, may provide a key to reliable identification.

Morphine Induces Upregulation of Neuronally Expressed CB2 Receptors in the Spinal Dorsal Horn of Rats

Background: Cannabinoid receptors play a key role in regulating numerous physiological processes, including immune function and reward signaling. Originally, endocannabinoid contributions to central nervous system processes were attributed to CB1 receptors, but technological advances have confirmed the expression of CB2 receptors in both neurons and glia throughout the brain. Mapping of these receptors is less extensive than for CB1 receptors, and it is still not clear how CB2 receptors contribute to processes that involve endocannabinoid signaling. Objectives: The goal of our study was to assess the effects of peripheral nerve injury and chronic morphine administration, two manipulations that alter endocannabinoid system function, on CB2 receptor expression in the spinal dorsal horn of rats. Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to chronic constriction injury (CCI), sham surgery, or pain naïve groups, with half of each group receiving once daily injections of morphine (5 mg/kg) for 10 days. On day 11, spinal cords were isolated and prepared for fluorescent immunohistochemistry. Separate sections from the deep and superficial dorsal horn were stained for neuronal nuclei (NeuN), CD11b, or 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) to mark neurons, microglia, and cell nuclei, respectively. Double labeling was used to assess colocalization of CB2 receptors with NeuN or microglial markers. Quantification of mean pixel intensity for each antibody was assessed using a fluorescent microscope, and CB2 receptor expressing cells were also counted manually. Results: Surgery increased DAPI cell counts in the deep and superficial dorsal horn, with CCI rats displaying increased CD11b labeling ipsilateral to the nerve injury. Surgery also decreased NeuN labeling in both regions, an effect that was blocked by morphine administration. CB2 receptors were expressed, predominantly, on NeuN-labeled cells with significant increases in CB2 receptor labeling across all surgery groups in both deep and superficial areas following morphine administration. Conclusions: Our findings provide supporting evidence for the expression of CB2 receptors on neurons and reveal upregulation of receptor expression in the dorsal spinal cord following surgery and chronic morphine administration, with the latter producing a larger effect. Synergistic effects of morphine-cannabinoid treatments, therefore, may involve CB2-mu opioid receptor interactions, pointing to novel therapeutic treatments for a variety of medical conditions.

Macrophage-Mediated Tissue Vascularization: Similarities and Differences Between Cornea and Skin

Macrophages are critical mediators of tissue vascularization both in health and disease. In multiple tissues, macrophages have been identified as important regulators of both blood and lymphatic vessel growth, specifically following tissue injury and in pathological inflammatory responses. In development, macrophages have also been implicated in limiting vascular growth. Hence, macrophages provide an important therapeutic target to modulate tissue vascularization in the clinic. However, the molecular mechanisms how macrophages mediate tissue vascularization are still not entirely resolved. Furthermore, mechanisms might also vary among different tissues. Here we review the role of macrophages in tissue vascularization with a focus on their role in blood and lymphatic vessel formation in the barrier tissues cornea and skin. Comparing mechanisms of macrophage-mediated hem- and lymphangiogenesis in the angiogenically privileged cornea and the physiologically vascularized skin provides an opportunity to highlight similarities but also tissue-specific differences, and to understand how macrophage-mediated hem- and lymphangiogenesis can be exploited for the treatment of disease, including corneal wound healing after injury, graft rejection after corneal transplantation or pathological vascularization of the skin.

Microglia Diversity in Healthy and Diseased Brain: Insights from Single-Cell Omics

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that have distinct ontogeny from other tissue macrophages and play a pivotal role in health and disease. Microglia rapidly react to the changes in their microenvironment. This plasticity is attributed to the ability of microglia to adapt a context-specific phenotype. Numerous gene expression profiling studies of immunosorted CNS immune cells did not permit a clear dissection of their phenotypes, particularly in diseases when peripheral cells of the immune system come to play. Only recent advances in single-cell technologies allowed studying microglia at high resolution and revealed a spectrum of discrete states both under homeostatic and pathological conditions. Single-cell technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and mass cytometry (Cytometry by Time-Of-Flight, CyTOF) enabled determining entire transcriptomes or the simultaneous quantification of >30 cellular parameters of thousands of individual cells. Single-cell omics studies demonstrated the unforeseen heterogeneity of microglia and immune infiltrates in brain pathologies: neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, depression, and brain tumors. We summarize the findings from those studies and the current state of knowledge of functional diversity of microglia under physiological and pathological conditions. A precise definition of microglia functions and phenotypes may be essential to design future immune-modulating therapies.

Inhibitors of Src Family Kinases, Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase, and NADPH Oxidase as Potential CNS Drug Targets for Neurological Diseases

Neurological diseases share common neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. Both phenotypic and molecular changes in microglia, astrocytes, and neurons contribute to the progression of disease and present potential targets for disease modification. Src family kinases (SFKs) are present in both neurons and glial cells and are upregulated following neurological insults in both human and animal models. In neurons, SFKs interact with post-synaptic protein domains to mediate hyperexcitability and neurotoxicity. SFKs are upstream of signaling cascades that lead to the modulation of neurotransmitter receptors and the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as producers of free radicals through the activation of glia. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS/NOS-II) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2), the major mediators of reactive nitrogen/oxygen species (RNS/ROS) production in the brain, are also upregulated along with the pro-inflammatory cytokines following neurological insult and contribute to disease progression. Persistent neuronal hyperexcitability, RNS/ROS, and cytokines can exacerbate neurodegeneration, a common pathognomonic feature of the most prevalent neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. Using a wide variety of preclinical disease models, inhibitors of the SFK-iNOS-NOX2 signaling axis have been tested to cure or modify disease progression. In this review, we discuss the SFK-iNOS-NOX2 signaling pathway and their inhibitors as potential CNS targets for major neurological diseases.

Modeling SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals with opioid use disorder with brain organoids

The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated a preexisting epidemic: the opioid crisis. Much literature has shown that the circumstances imposed by COVID-19, such as social distancing regulations, medical and financial instability, and increased mental health issues, have been detrimental to those with opioid use disorder (OUD). In addition, unexpected neurological sequelae in COVID-19 patients suggest that COVID-19 compromises neuroimmunity, induces hypoxia, and causes respiratory depression, provoking similar effects as those caused by opioid exposure. Combined conditions of COVID-19 and OUD could lead to exacerbated complications. With limited human in vivo options to study these complications, we suggest that iPSC-derived brain organoid models may serve as a useful platform to investigate the physiological connection between COVID-19 and OUD. This mini-review highlights the advances of brain organoids in other neuropsychiatric and infectious diseases and suggests their potential utility for investigating OUD and COVID-19, respectively.

Microglial circadian clock regulation of microglial structural complexity, dendritic spine density and inflammatory response

Cortical microglia exhibit a ramified shape during sleep, while they have a hyper-ramified shape during wakefulness, which is characterized by their longer processes with increased branching points. The microglial molecular circadian clock regulates expressions of both cathepsin S (CatS) and P2Y₁₂ receptors in the brain with a peak at zeitgeber time 14 (2 h after beginning of the dark phase). We postulated that these two microglia-specific molecules contribute to diurnal alterations of microglial shapes and neuronal activities in the cerebral cortex. During wakefulness, CatS secreted from cortical microglia may be involved in P2Y₁₂ receptor-dependent process extension. Secreted CatS subsequently degrades the perineuronal nets, initiating the downscaling of both spine density and synaptic strength of cortical neurons toward the beginning of sleep. The downscaling of both spine density and synaptic strength of cortical neurons during sleep could improve signal-to-noise, which would benefit memory consolidation, or allow for new learning to occur during subsequent waking. Furthermore, disruption of CatS induces the sleep disturbance and impaired social interaction in mice. Moreover, the microglial clock system disruption may also play a role in the early pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The reduced expression of BMAL1 in cortical microglia caused by oligomeric amyloid β may induce the increased presence of inflammatory phenotype through a reduction in RORα, which in turn reduced IκBα and enhanced NF-κB activation. These observations suggest that the microglial clock system disruption contribute to pathogeneses of sleep disturbance, impaired social interaction and cognitive impairment. Therefore, the growing understanding of the microglial circadian molecular clock might aid in the development of novel pharmacological interventions against both neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

Gastrodin Regulates the Notch Signaling Pathway and Sirt3 in Activated Microglia in Cerebral Hypoxic-Ischemia Neonatal Rats and in Activated BV-2 Microglia

In response to hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD), microglia activation and its mediated inflammation contribute to neuronal damage. Inhibition of over-activated microglia is deemed to be a potential therapeutic strategy. Our previous studies showed that gastrodin efficiently depressed the neuroinflammation mediated by activated microglia in HIBD neonatal rats. The underlying mechanisms through which gastrodin acts on activated microglia have not been fully elucidated. This study is designed to determine whether gastrodin would regulate the Notch signaling pathway and Sirtuin3 (Sirt3), which are implicated in regulating microglia activation. The present results showed that gastrodin markedly suppressed the expression of members of Notch signaling pathway (Notch-1, NICD, RBP-JK and Hes-1) in activated microglia both in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, Sirt3 expression was enhanced. In BV-2 microglia treated with a γ-secretase inhibitor of Notch pathway- DAPT, the expression of RBP-JK, Hes-1, and NICD was suppressed in activated microglia. Treatment with DAPT and gastrodin further decreased NICD and Hes-1 expression. Sirt3 expression was also decreased after DAPT treatment. However, Sirt3 expression in activated BV-2 microglia given a combined DAPT and gastrodin treatment was not further increased. In addition, combination of DAPT and Gastrodin cumulatively decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression. The results suggest that gastrodin regulates microglia activation via the Notch signaling pathway and Sirt3. More importantly, interference of the Notch signaling pathway inhibited Sirt3 expression, indicating that Sirt3 is a downstream gene of the Notch signaling pathway. It is suggested that Notch and Sirt3 synergistically regulate microglia activation such as in TNF-α production.

A Developmental Analysis of Juxtavascular Microglia Dynamics and Interactions with the Vasculature

Microglia, a resident CNS macrophage, are dynamic cells, constantly extending and retracting their processes as they contact and functionally regulate neurons and other glial cells. There is far less known about microglia-vascular interactions, particularly under healthy steady-state conditions. Here, we use the male and female mouse cerebral cortex to show that a higher percentage of microglia associate with the vasculature during the first week of postnatal development compared with older ages and that the timing of these associations is dependent on the fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1). Similar developmental microglia-vascular associations were detected in the human brain. Using live imaging in mice, we found that juxtavascular microglia migrated when microglia are actively colonizing the cortex and became stationary by adulthood to occupy the same vascular space for nearly 2 months. Further, juxtavascular microglia at all ages associate with vascular areas void of astrocyte endfeet, and the developmental shift in microglial migratory behavior along vessels corresponded to when astrocyte endfeet more fully ensheath vessels. Together, our data provide a comprehensive assessment of microglia-vascular interactions. They support a mechanism by which microglia use the vasculature to migrate within the developing brain parenchyma. This migration becomes restricted on the arrival of astrocyte endfeet such that juxtavascular microglia become highly stationary and stable in the mature cortex.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We report the first extensive analysis of juxtavascular microglia in the healthy, developing, and adult brain. Live imaging revealed that juxtavascular microglia within the cortex are highly motile and migrate along vessels as they are colonizing cortical regions. Using confocal, expansion, super-resolution, and electron microscopy, we determined that microglia associate with the vasculature at all ages in areas lacking full astrocyte endfoot coverage and motility of juxtavascular microglia ceases as astrocyte endfeet more fully ensheath the vasculature. Our data lay the fundamental groundwork to investigate microglia-astrocyte cross talk and juxtavascular microglial function in the healthy and diseased brain. They further provide a potential mechanism by which vascular interactions facilitate microglial colonization of the brain to later regulate neural circuit development.

In-vivo imaging of neuroinflammation in veterans with Gulf War illness

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic disorder affecting approximately 30% of the veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War. It is characterised by a constellation of symptoms including musculoskeletal pain, cognitive problems and fatigue. The cause of GWI is not definitively known but exposure to neurotoxicants, the prophylactic use of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pills, and/or stressors during deployment have all been suspected to play some pathogenic role. Recent animal models of GWI have suggested that neuroinflammatory mechanisms may be implicated, including a dysregulated activation of microglia and astrocytes. However, neuroinflammation has not previously been directly observed in veterans with GWI. To measure GWI-related neuroinflammation in GW veterans, we conducted a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) study using [¹¹C]PBR28, which binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a protein upregulated in activated microglia/macrophages and astrocytes. Veterans with GWI (n = 15) and healthy controls (HC, n = 33, including a subgroup of healthy GW veterans, HC_VET, n = 8), were examined using integrated [¹¹C]PBR28 PET/MRI. Standardized uptake values normalized by occipital cortex signal (SUVR) were compared across groups and against clinical variables and circulating inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β). SUVR were validated against volume of distribution ratio (n = 13). Whether compared to the whole HC group, or only the HC_VET subgroup, veterans with GWI demonstrated widespread cortical elevations in [¹¹C]PBR28 PET signal, in areas including precuneus, prefrontal, primary motor and somatosensory cortices. There were no significant group differences in the plasma levels of the inflammatory cytokines evaluated. There were also no significant correlations between [¹¹C]PBR28 PET signal and clinical variables or circulating inflammatory cytokines. Our study provides the first direct evidence of brain upregulation of the neuroinflammatory marker TSPO in veterans with GWI and supports the exploration of neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target for this disorder.

Intraventricular IL-17A administration activates microglia and alters their localization in the mouse embryo cerebral cortex

Viral infection during pregnancy has been suggested to increase the probability of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring via the phenomenon of maternal immune activation (MIA). This has been modeled in rodents. Maternal T helper 17 cells and the effector cytokine, interleukin 17A (IL-17A), play a central role in MIA-induced behavioral abnormalities and cortical dysgenesis, termed cortical patch. However, it is unclear how IL-17A acts on fetal brain cells to cause ASD pathologies. To assess the effect of IL-17A on cortical development, we directly administered IL-17A into the lateral ventricles of the fetal mouse brain. We analyzed injected brains focusing on microglia, which express IL-17A receptors. We found that IL-17A activated microglia and altered their localization in the cerebral cortex. Our data indicate that IL-17A activates cortical microglia, which leads to a cascade of ASD-related brain pathologies, including excessive phagocytosis of neural progenitor cells in the ventricular zone.

Heterogeneity of Microglia Phenotypes: Developmental, Functional and Some Therapeutic Considerations

BACKGROUND

Microglia play a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis in complex brain environment. They first exist as amoeboid microglial cells (AMCs) in the developing brain, but with brain maturation, they transform into ramified microglial cells (RMCs). In pathological conditions, microglia are activated and have been classified into M1 and M2 phenotypes. The roles of AMCs, RMCs and M1/M2 microglia phenotypes especially in pathological conditions have been the focus of many recent studies.

METHODS

Here, we review the early development of the AMCs and RMCs and discuss their specific functions with reference to their anatomic locations, immunochemical coding etc. M1 and M2 microglia phenotypes in different neuropathological conditions are also reviewed.

RESULTS

Activated microglia are engaged in phagocytosis, production of proinflammatory mediators, trophic factors and synaptogenesis etc. Prolonged microglia activation, however, can cause damage to neurons and oligodendrocytes. The M1 and M2 phenotypes featured prominently in pathological conditions are discussed in depth. Experimental evidence suggests that microglia phenotype is being modulated by multiple factors including external and internal stimuli, local demands, epigenetic regulation, and herbal compounds.

CONCLUSION

Prevailing views converge that M2 polarization is neuroprotective. Thus, proper therapeutic designs including the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, herbal agents may be beneficial in suppression of microglial activation, especially M1 phenotype, for amelioration of neuroinflammation in different neuropathological conditions. Finally, recent development of radioligands targeting 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) in activated microglia may hold great promises clinically for early detection of brain lesion with the positron emission tomography.

Similar Microglial Cell Densities across Brain Structures and Mammalian Species: Implications for Brain Tissue Function

Microglial cells play essential volume-related actions in the brain that contribute to the maturation and plasticity of neural circuits that ultimately shape behavior. Microglia can thus be expected to have similar cell sizes and even distribution both across brain structures and across species with different brain sizes. To test this hypothesis, we determined microglial cell densities (the inverse of cell size) using immunocytochemistry to Iba1 in samples of free cell nuclei prepared with the isotropic fractionator from brain structures of 33 mammalian species belonging to males and females of five different clades. We found that microglial cells constitute ∼7% of non-neuronal cells in different brain structures as well as in the whole brain of all mammalian species examined. Further, they vary little in cell density compared with neuronal cell densities within the cerebral cortex, across brain structures, across species within the same clade, and across mammalian clades. As a consequence, we find that one microglial cell services as few as one and as many as 100 neurons in different brain regions and species, depending on the local neuronal density. We thus conclude that the addition of microglial cells to mammalian brains is governed by mechanisms that constrain the size of these cells and have remained conserved over 200 million years of mammalian evolution. We discuss the probable consequences of such constrained size for brain function in health and disease.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Microglial cells are resident macrophages of the CNS, with key functions in recycling synapses and maintaining the local environment in health and disease. We find that microglial cells occur in similar densities in the brains of different species and in the different structures of each individual brain, which indicates that these cells maintain a similar average size in mammalian evolution, suggesting in turn that the volume monitored by each microglial cell remains constant across mammals. Because the density of neurons is highly variable across the same brain structures and species, our finding implies that microglia-dependent functional recovery may be particularly difficult in those brain structures and species with high neuronal densities and therefore fewer microglial cells per neuron.

Protective Microglial Subset in Development, Aging, and Disease: Lessons From Transcriptomic Studies

Microglial heterogeneity has been the topic of much discussion in the scientific community. Elucidation of their plasticity and adaptability to disease states triggered early efforts to characterize microglial subsets. Over time, their phenotypes, and later on their homeostatic signature, were revealed, through the use of increasingly advanced transcriptomic techniques. Recently, an increasing number of these "microglial signatures" have been reported in various homeostatic and disease contexts. Remarkably, many of these states show similar overlapping microglial gene expression patterns, both in homeostasis and in disease or injury. In this review, we integrate information from these studies, and we propose a unique subset, for which we introduce a core signature, based on our own research and reports from the literature. We describe that this subset is found in development and in normal aging as well as in diverse diseases. We discuss the functions of this subset as well as how it is induced.

Functional Analysis of Brain-Engrafted Monocytes After Microglia Ablation in Mouse Models

During insults and disease blood-borne monocytes can invade brain and spinal cord, contributing to the neuroimmune response together with brain-resident microglia. The specific function of brain-infiltrating monocytes has been difficult to ascertain because of shared marker expression and morphology of these two immune cell types. Here we describe our method of repopulating the brain with circulating monocytes after microglia ablation to investigate the physiology of brain-invading monocytes, which engraft under these conditions.

Microglial Phenotypes and Their Relationship to the Cannabinoid System: Therapeutic Implications for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, the motor symptoms of which are associated classically with Lewy body formation and nigrostriatal degeneration. Neuroinflammation has been implicated in the progression of this disease, by which microglia become chronically activated in response to α-synuclein pathology and dying neurons, thereby acquiring dishomeostatic phenotypes that are cytotoxic and can cause further neuronal death. Microglia have a functional endocannabinoid signaling system, expressing the cannabinoid receptors in addition to being capable of synthesizing and degrading endocannabinoids. Alterations in the cannabinoid system—particularly an upregulation in the immunomodulatory CB₂ receptor—have been demonstrated to be related to the microglial activation state and hence the microglial phenotype. This paper will review studies that examine the relationship between the cannabinoid system and microglial activation, and how this association could be manipulated for therapeutic benefit in Parkinson’s disease.

Role of Infiltrating Microglia/Macrophages in Glioma

In this chapter we describe the state of the art knowledge of the role played by myeloid cells in promoting and supporting the growth and the invasive properties of a deadly brain tumor, glioblastoma. We provide a review of the works describing the intercellular communication among glioma and associated microglia/macrophage cells (GAMs) using in vitro cellular models derived from mice, rats and human patients and in vivo animal models using syngeneic or xenogeneic experimental systems. Special emphasis will be given to 1) the timing alteration of brain microenvironment under the influence of glioma, 2) the bidirectional communication among tumor and GAMs, 3) possible approaches to interfere with or to guide these interactions, with the aim to identify molecular and cellular targets which could revert or delay the vicious cycle that favors tumor biology.

Lupus serum IgG induces microglia activation through Fc fragment dependent way and modulated by B-cell activating factor

BACKGROUND

Neuropsychiatric manifestations are frequent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), yet the etiology and pathogenesis of brain damage in SLE remains unclear. Because the production of autoantibodies, formation and deposition of immunocomplexes are major serological characteristics of SLE, the elevated level of serum immunoglobulin may contribute to brain tissue injury of SLE. To testify this, in this study, we examined whether immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the serum of SLE patients affects the cellular functions in central nervous system and the potential mechanism.

METHODS

In vivo intracerebral injection of SLE-serum in mouse was used to activate microglia and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine was assessed by ELISA. Sera was divided into IgG and IgG depleted fractions, while IgG was further divided into Fc and Fab fragments to examine which part has an effect on microglia. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were used to verify the synergistic effect of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) on IgG stimulation of microglia.

RESULTS

We found that IgG in lupus sera can induce M1 activation of brain microglia following intraventricular injection into normal mice, and BAFF facilitates this process. In vitro, we identified that IgG bound to microglia through Fc rather than Fab fragments, and BAFF up-regulated the expression of Fc receptors (FcγR) on the surface of microglia, consequently, promote IgG binding to microglia.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that lupus serum IgG causes inflammatory responses of microglia by involving the Fc signaling pathway and the activity could be up-regulated by BAFF. Accordingly, disruption of the FcγR-mediated signaling pathway and blockade of microglia activation may be a therapeutic target in patients with neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus.

Microglia and sexual differentiation of the developing brain: A focus on extrinsic factors

Microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain, have recently been removed from the position of mere sentinels and promoted to the role of active sculptors of developing circuits and cells. Alongside their functions in normal brain development, microglia coordinate sexual differentiation of the brain, a set of processes which vary by region and endpoint like that of microglia function itself. In this review, we highlight the ways microglia are both targets and drivers of brain sexual differentiation. We examine the factors that may drive sex differences in microglia, with a special focus on how changing microenvironments in the developing brain dictate microglia phenotypes and discuss how their diverse functions sculpt lasting sex-specific changes in the brain. Finally, we consider how sex-specific early life environments contribute to epigenetic programming and lasting sex differences in microglia identity.