Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Identifying Microglia and Peripheral Infiltrating Macrophages in the Injured Spinal Cords Using Flow Cytometry
Published on: June 24, 2025
Hematogenous Macrophages: A New Therapeutic Target for Spinal Cord Injury
Yuanzhe Ding1,2, Di Zhang1,2,3, Sheng Wang1,2,3
1Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Abstract:
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disease leading to loss of sensory and motor functions, whose pathological process includes mechanical primary injury and secondary injury. Macrophages play an important role in SCI pathology. According to its origin, it can be divided into resident microglia and peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages (hematogenous Mφ). And it can also be divided into M1-type macrophages and M2-type macrophages on the basis of its functional characteristics. Hematogenous macrophages may contribute to the SCI process through infiltrating, scar forming, phagocytizing debris, and inducing inflammatory response. Although some of the activities of hematogenous macrophages are shown to be beneficial, the role of hematogenous macrophages in SCI remains controversial. In this review, following a brief introduction of hematogenous macrophages, we mainly focus on the function and the controversial role of hematogenous macrophages in SCI, and we propose that hematogenous macrophages may be a new therapeutic target for SCI.
Insights
Hematogenous macrophages, originating from peripheral monocytes, play a complex role in spinal cord injury (SCI) pathology. Understanding their dual functions is key to developing new therapeutic strategies for SCI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes significant sensory and motor function loss.
- Macrophages, including resident microglia and peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages (hematogenous Mφ), are crucial in SCI pathology.
- Macrophages exhibit diverse functional phenotypes, broadly classified as M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory/pro-resolving).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the function and controversial role of hematogenous macrophages in spinal cord injury (SCI).
- To explore the potential of hematogenous macrophages as a novel therapeutic target for SCI.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on hematogenous macrophages in SCI.
- Analysis of macrophage origins (resident vs. peripheral) and functional phenotypes (M1 vs. M2).
- Discussion of hematogenous macrophage contributions including infiltration, scar formation, debris phagocytosis, and inflammatory response modulation.
Main Results:
- Hematogenous macrophages infiltrate the injured spinal cord and participate in scar formation.
- Their roles in phagocytosis and inflammatory response are multifaceted, with both beneficial and detrimental effects observed.
- The precise contribution of hematogenous macrophages to SCI pathogenesis remains a subject of debate.
Conclusions:
- Hematogenous macrophages exhibit complex and often contradictory roles in spinal cord injury.
- Targeting hematogenous macrophages presents a promising avenue for future SCI therapeutic interventions.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific mechanisms and optimize therapeutic strategies involving these cells.
More Related Videos
08:43Intravital Imaging of Axonal Interactions with Microglia and Macrophages in a Mouse Dorsal Column Crush Injury
Published on: November 23, 2014
08:52Neuron-Macrophage Co-cultures to Activate Macrophages Secreting Molecular Factors with Neurite Outgrowth Activity
Published on: March 30, 2018
