Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 14, 2025
Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates
Published on: January 30, 2014
Textured nanofibrils drive microglial phenotype
Qin Song1, Simone Pifferi2, Lin Shi3
1International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, 34136, Italy; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical College, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315100, PR China; Cixi Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, PR China.
Abstract:
Microglia are highly plastic cells that change their properties in response to their microenvironment. By using immunofluorescence, live-cell imaging, electrophysiological recordings and RNA sequencing, we investigated the regulation of modified bacterial cellulose (mBC) nanofibril substrates on microglial properties. We demonstrate that mBC substrates induce ramified microglia with constantly extending and retracting processes, reminiscent of what is observed in vivo. Patch-clamp recordings show that microglia acquire a more negative resting membrane potential and have increased inward rectifier K+ currents, caused by an upregulation of Kir2.1 channels. Transcriptome analysis shows upregulation of genes involved in the immune response and downregulation of genes linked to cell adhesion and cell motion. Furthermore, Arp2/3 complex activation and integrin-mediated signaling modulate microglial morphology and motility. Our studies demonstrate that mBC nanofibril substrates modulate microglial phenotype, paving the way for a microglia-material interface that may be very valuable for anti-neuroinflammatory drug screening.
Insights
Modified bacterial cellulose (mBC) nanofibril substrates promote microglia with in vivo-like processes and altered ion channel activity. This creates a novel microglia-material interface for anti-neuroinflammatory drug screening.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomaterials Science
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microglia are immune cells in the central nervous system, crucial for brain health and disease.
- Microglial behavior is highly influenced by their surrounding microenvironment.
- Understanding microglial responses to biomaterials is key for developing neural interfaces and therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how modified bacterial cellulose (mBC) nanofibril substrates affect microglial properties.
- To explore the potential of mBC as a platform for studying microglial behavior and for drug screening.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence microscopy
- Live-cell imaging
- Electrophysiological recordings (patch-clamp)
- RNA sequencing (transcriptome analysis)
Main Results:
- mBC substrates induced ramified microglia with dynamic processes, mimicking in vivo morphology.
- Microglia on mBC showed a more negative resting membrane potential and increased inward rectifier K+ currents due to Kir2.1 channel upregulation.
- Transcriptome analysis revealed altered gene expression related to immune response, cell adhesion, and motility.
- Arp2/3 complex activation and integrin signaling were identified as modulators of microglial morphology and motility.
Conclusions:
- mBC nanofibril substrates effectively modulate microglial phenotype, promoting a more physiological state.
- The mBC-microglia interface shows promise for developing advanced tools for anti-neuroinflammatory drug discovery and screening.
More Related Videos
07:54Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility
Published on: April 13, 2017
10:40Immunofluorescence Staining Using IBA1 and TMEM119 for Microglial Density, Morphology and Peripheral Myeloid Cell Infiltration Analysis in Mouse Brain
Published on: October 27, 2019