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Published on: June 5, 2018
The Shape of μ-How Morphological Analyses Shape the Study of Microglia
Lance Fredrick Pahutan Bosch1,2, Katrin Kierdorf1,3,4
1Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Microglia, the innate immune cells of the CNS parenchyma, serve as the first line of defense in a myriad of neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neuroinflammatory conditions. In response to the peripheral inflammation, circulating mediators, and other external signals that are produced by these conditions, microglia dynamically employ different transcriptional programs as well as morphological adaptations to maintain homeostasis. To understand these cells' function, the field has established a number of essential analysis approaches, such as gene expression, cell quantification, and morphological reconstruction. Although high-throughput approaches are becoming commonplace in regard to other types of analyses (e.g., single-cell scRNA-seq), a similar standard for morphological reconstruction has yet to be established. In this review, we offer an overview of microglial morphological analysis methods, exploring the advantages and disadvantages of each, highlighting a number of key studies, and emphasizing how morphological analysis has significantly contributed to our understanding of microglial function in the CNS parenchyma. In doing so, we advocate for the use of unbiased, automated morphological reconstruction approaches in future studies, in order to capitalize on the valuable information embedded in the cellular structures microglia inhabit.
Insights
Microglia, the brain's immune cells, adapt their shape to maintain health during neurological conditions. This review covers methods for analyzing microglial morphology, advocating for automated approaches in future research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microglia are the primary immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma.
- They play a crucial role in neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neuroinflammatory conditions.
- Microglia dynamically adapt their transcriptional programs and morphology to maintain homeostasis in response to various signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of microglial morphological analysis methods.
- To explore the advantages and disadvantages of existing techniques.
- To highlight the significant contributions of morphological analysis to understanding microglial function.
Main Methods:
- Review of established and emerging microglial analysis approaches.
- Discussion of gene expression, cell quantification, and morphological reconstruction techniques.
- Examination of high-throughput methods, including single-cell scRNA-seq.
Main Results:
- Current morphological reconstruction methods lack standardization compared to other high-throughput analyses.
- Morphological analysis has been pivotal in advancing our comprehension of microglial roles in the CNS.
- Various studies demonstrate the utility of morphological assessments in diverse neurological contexts.
Conclusions:
- Standardized, high-throughput methods for microglial morphological reconstruction are needed.
- Advocacy for the adoption of unbiased, automated approaches in future research.
- Emphasizing the potential of leveraging cellular structural information for deeper insights into microglial function.
