Radiation Triggers a Dynamic Sequence of Transient Microglial Alterations in Juvenile Brain

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107699
• Publication Date: 2020-06-02T14:36:49Z
• Authors: Ahmed M. Osman; Ying Sun; Terry C. Burns; Liqun He; Nigel Kee; Nuria Oliva-Vilarnau; Androniki Alevyzaki; Kai Zhou; Lauri Louhivuori; Per Uhlén; Eva Hedlund; Christer Betsholtz; Volker M. Lauschke; Julianna Kele; Klas Blomgren
• Keywords: Homeostasis

Cranial irradiation (IR), an effective tool to treat malignant brain tumors, triggers a chronic pro-inflammatory microglial response, at least in the adult brain. Using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing, combined with histology, we show that response juvenile mouse hippocampus is rapid but returns toward normal within 1 week. The characterized by series of temporally distinct homeostasis-, sensome-, inflammation-related molecular signatures. We find single cell simultaneously upregulates transcripts associated pro- anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Finally, irradiated microglia are already transcriptionally early phase after IR. Our results indicate involved initial stages may not be responsible for driving long-term inflammation