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Updated: Aug 22, 2025
Analysis of Microglia and Monocyte-derived Macrophages from the Central Nervous System by Flow Cytometry
Published on: June 22, 2017
Recent topics regarding macrophage in the central nervous system
1Department of Molecular and System Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 812-8582 Fukuoka, Japan.
Abstract:
The central nervous system (CNS) is a highly complex collection of neurons with a variety of stromal cells, such as glia cells, immune cells, vascular cells and fibroblasts. Microglia are a resident macrophage and a type of glial cells located in the parenchyma of the CNS and play a pivotal role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. They are early responders to the abnormality of the CNS, leading to the adaptation of their phenotypes by virtue of their plasticity, after which they give an impact on neuronal functions. Besides microglia, there are anatomically and phenotypically distinct macrophage populations at the border of the CNS, such as meninge, perivascular space and choroid plexus, where they show distinct morphology and gene expression profiles when compared with microglia. This review will summarize the recent advance in our knowledge regarding their heterogeneity, plasticity, ontogenetic relationship of these CNS-resident macrophage populations.
Insights
The central nervous system (CNS) contains diverse macrophage populations, including microglia and distinct border-associated macrophages. This review explores their heterogeneity, plasticity, and origins for better understanding CNS tissue homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The central nervous system (CNS) comprises neurons and various stromal cells, including microglia, the resident macrophages within the brain parenchyma.
- Microglia are crucial for maintaining CNS tissue homeostasis and respond dynamically to neural abnormalities.
- Distinct macrophage populations reside at the CNS borders (meninges, perivascular space, choroid plexus), differing morphologically and genetically from microglia.
Approach:
- This review synthesizes recent research on CNS-resident macrophage populations.
- It focuses on their heterogeneity, phenotypic plasticity, and ontogenetic relationships.
- Comparative analysis of microglia and border-associated macrophages is highlighted.
Key Points:
- CNS harbors diverse macrophage populations with specialized functions.
- Microglia exhibit plasticity, adapting phenotypes in response to CNS conditions.
- Border-associated macrophages possess unique characteristics compared to parenchymal microglia.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the heterogeneity and plasticity of CNS macrophages is vital for comprehending CNS health and disease.
- Further research into the ontogeny and distinct roles of these populations will advance neuroimmunology.
- This review provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on CNS-resident macrophages.
