Microglia coordinate cellular interactions during spinal cord repair in mice

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31797-0
• Publication Date: 2022-07-14T14:05:44Z
• Authors: Faith H. Brennan; Yang Li; Cankun Wang; Anjun Ma; Qi Guo; Yi Li; Nicole Pukos; Warren A. Campbell; Kristina G. Witcher; Zhen Guan; Kristina A. Kigerl; Jodie C. E. Hall; Jonathan P. Godbout; Andy J. Fischer; Dana M. McTigue; Zhigang He; Qin Ma; Phillip G. Popovich
• Keywords: CX3CR1

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers a neuro-inflammatory response dominated by tissue-resident microglia and monocyte derived macrophages (MDMs). Since activated MDMs are morphologically identical express similar phenotypic markers in vivo, identifying responses specifically coordinated has historically been challenging. Here, we pharmacologically depleted use anatomical, histopathological, tract tracing, bulk single cell RNA sequencing to reveal the cellular molecular SCI controlled microglia. We show that vital for recovery coordinate CNS-resident glia infiltrating leukocytes. Depleting exacerbates tissue damage worsens functional recovery. Conversely, restoring select microglia-dependent signaling axes, identified through data, mice prevents secondary promotes Additional bioinformatics analyses optimal repair after might be achieved co-opting key ligand-receptor interactions between microglia, astrocytes MDMs.