Peripherally Derived Macrophages Modulate Microglial Function to Reduce Inflammation After CNS Injury

Overview

Journal PLoS Biol

Specialty Biology

Date 2018 Oct 18

PMID 30332405

Citations 114

Authors

Andrew D Greenhalgh

Juan G Zarruk

Luke M Healy

Sam J Baskar Jesudasan

Priya Jhelum

Christopher K Salmon

Albert Formanek

Matthew V Russo

Jack P Antel

Dorian B McGavern

Barry W McColl

Samuel David

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and resident microglia dominate central nervous system (CNS) injury sites. Differential roles for these cell populations after injury are beginning to be uncovered. Here, we show evidence that MDMs and microglia directly communicate with one another and differentially modulate each other's functions. Importantly, microglia-mediated phagocytosis and inflammation are suppressed by infiltrating macrophages. In the context of spinal cord injury (SCI), preventing such communication increases microglial activation and worsens functional recovery. We suggest that macrophages entering the CNS provide a regulatory mechanism that controls acute and long-term microglia-mediated inflammation, which may drive damage in a variety of CNS conditions.

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