Work

Definition of a mouse microglial subset that regulates neuronal development and proinflammatory responses in the brain

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Significance CD11c + microglia enriched for osteopontin (OPN) expression appear at distinct stages of brain development, aging, and several neurodegenerative disorders. Whether coexpression of CD11c and OPN results from microglial activation or represents a part of a subset-specific genetic program is unknown. We find that this CD11c + microglial subset is formed before birth upon uptake of apoptotic neurons. Our analysis also suggests that it represents a stable subset that requires OPN to mediate engulfment of synaptic proteins, proliferate, and develop a proinflammatory phenotype. Definition of OPN-producing CD11c + microglia as a specialized microglial subset provides insight into the contribution of microglial differentiation to brain development and function in health and disease.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2116241119

Authors: Xianli Shen, Yiguo Qiu, Andrew E. Wight, Hye-Jung Kim, Harvey Cantor

Institutions: Harvard University, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Language: English

Topic: Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: American Association of Immunologists, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases