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Microglia promote the proliferation of neural precursor cells by secreting osteopontin

Miwako Yamamiya1, Shogo Tanabe1, Rieko Muramatsu1

  • 1Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|April 21, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Microglia, immune cells in the brain, promote neural precursor cell (NPC) proliferation via osteopontin (OPN) signaling. This interaction involves the OPN receptor integrin αvβ3, crucial for brain development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Microglia are key immune cells in the central nervous system.
  • Microglia influence neural precursor cell (NPC) numbers through phagocytosis, apoptosis, and proliferation.
  • Osteopontin (OPN) is expressed by microglia near the developing brain's subventricular zone.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of microglia in NPC proliferation in vitro.
  • To identify the specific osteopontin (OPN) receptor mediating NPC proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Co-culture of microglia and NPCs.
  • Inhibition of OPN using a neutralizing antibody.
  • Treatment with Cilengitide, an integrin αvβ3 inhibitor.

Main Results:

  • OPN inhibition reduced microglia-induced NPC proliferation.
  • NPCs express integrin αvβ3, identified as an OPN receptor.
  • Inhibiting integrin αvβ3 also reduced microglia-induced NPC proliferation.

Conclusions:

  • Microglia promote NPC proliferation through the OPN-integrin αvβ3 signaling pathway.
  • This pathway is critical for microglia's role in brain development.
Keywords:
MicrogliaNeural precursor cellsOsteopontinProliferation

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