Brain macrophages in vascular health and dysfunction.

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Vascular Biology
• Central Nervous System (CNS) Research

Background:

• Diverse macrophage populations, including microglia and border-associated macrophages (BAMs), reside in the CNS.
• These cells are vital for brain development, homeostasis, and neurological disease pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the emerging roles of CNS macrophages in regulating vascular function.
• To discuss the involvement of these macrophages in cerebrovascular health and disease.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advancements in CNS macrophage research.
• Focus on studies investigating macrophage roles in vascular integrity and blood flow.

Main Results:

• CNS macrophages, beyond microglia, including BAMs and perivascular macrophages, support vascular integrity and blood flow.
• Macrophages are implicated in protecting against vascular dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• CNS macrophages play significant roles in maintaining vascular function in both health and disease.
• Understanding these roles is key to modulating cerebrovascular disease progression.