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Developmental differences in microglia morphology and gene expression during normal brain development and in response
Pelin Cengiz1, Dila Zafer2, Jayadevi H Chandrashekhar3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
Neurochemistry International
|January 15, 2019
Summary
Microglia maturation affects their response to brain injury. The age of injury in developing mice significantly alters microglial morphology and gene expression, impacting outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Neuroinflammation is critical in ischemic brain injury and recovery.
- The interaction between brain development and neuroinflammation is not well understood.
- Previous work showed age-dependent microglial responses and effects of inhibition.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate if age-dependent microglial responses are linked to pre-injury developmental differences.
- Examine microglial phenotype changes during brain development.
- Assess microglial response to hypoxia-ischemia (HI) at different developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Quantified microglia morphology in mice at postnatal days 2, 9, 30, and 60.
- Assessed microglial activation markers, TGF-β receptor, Serpine1, MerTK, and SOCS3 expression.
- Induced HI in P9 and P30 mice and analyzed hippocampal microglia.
Main Results:
- Microglia showed increased branching morphology from P2 to P30.
- No consistent classical or alternative activation profile was observed.
- Expression of TGF-β, Serpine1, MerTK, and SOCS3 increased between P9 and P30.
- HI decreased branching in P9 mice; P30 mice showed elevated TGF-β pathway gene expression post-HI.
Conclusions:
- Microglia maturation involves morphological and gene expression changes.
- Microglial responses to ischemia in the developing brain are age-dependent.
- The age at injury influences the severity and nature of the neuroinflammatory response.
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