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Updated: Dec 15, 2025
Intravital Imaging of Axonal Interactions with Microglia and Macrophages in a Mouse Dorsal Column Crush Injury
Published on: November 23, 2014
Imaging resident and recruited macrophage contribution to Wallerian degeneration
Alexandre Boissonnas1, Floriane Louboutin1, Marie Laviron1
1Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses Cimi-Paris, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Wallerian degeneration (WD) is a process of autonomous distal degeneration of axons upon injury. Macrophages (MPs) of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are the main cellular agent controlling this process. Some evidence suggests that resident PNS-MPs along with MPs of hematogenous origin may be involved, but whether these two subsets exert distinct functions is unknown. Combining MP-designed fluorescent reporter mice and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) imaging of the sciatic nerve, we deciphered the spatiotemporal choreography of resident and recently recruited MPs after injury and unveiled distinct functions of these subsets, with recruited MPs being responsible for efficient myelin stripping and clearance and resident MPs being involved in axonal regrowth. This work provides clues to tackle selectively cellular processes involved in neurodegenerative diseases.
Insights
Wallerian degeneration involves macrophages clearing debris and aiding axonal regrowth. This study reveals distinct roles for resident and recruited macrophages in peripheral nerve injury repair.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Wallerian degeneration (WD) is axonal degeneration after nerve injury.
- Macrophages (MPs) in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) manage WD.
- The distinct roles of resident and recruited PNS-MPs in WD are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatiotemporal roles of distinct macrophage subsets during Wallerian degeneration.
- To differentiate the functions of resident and recruited macrophages in the injured PNS.
Main Methods:
- Utilized MP-designed fluorescent reporter mice for cell tracking.
- Employed coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) imaging of the sciatic nerve.
- Analyzed the spatiotemporal dynamics and functions of macrophage subsets post-injury.
Main Results:
- Deciphered the choreography of resident and recruited MPs after sciatic nerve injury.
- Demonstrated distinct functions: recruited MPs mediate myelin clearance, while resident MPs support axonal regrowth.
- Identified specific cellular processes involved in neurodegenerative repair.
Conclusions:
- Resident and recruited macrophages play distinct, complementary roles in Wallerian degeneration.
- Recruited macrophages are crucial for efficient debris clearance.
- Resident macrophages are essential for promoting axonal regeneration after nerve injury.
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