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Updated: May 15, 2025
Culturing Microglia from the Neonatal and Adult Central Nervous System
Published on: August 9, 2013
Peripheral nervous system microglia-like cells regulate neuronal soma size throughout evolution
Zhisheng Wu1, Yiheng Wang2, Wei-Wei Chen3
1Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Department of Immunology, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Nurturing Center of Jiangsu Province for State Laboratory of AI Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Abstract:
Microglia, essential in the central nervous system (CNS), were historically considered absent from the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Here, we show a PNS-resident macrophage population that shares transcriptomic and epigenetic profiles as well as an ontogenetic trajectory with CNS microglia. This population (termed PNS microglia-like cells) enwraps the neuronal soma inside the satellite glial cell envelope, preferentially associates with larger neurons during PNS development, and is required for neuronal functions by regulating soma enlargement and axon growth. A phylogenetic survey of 24 vertebrates revealed an early origin of PNS microglia-like cells, whose presence is correlated with neuronal soma size (and body size) rather than evolutionary distance. Consistent with their requirement for soma enlargement, PNS microglia-like cells are maintained in vertebrates with large peripheral neuronal soma but absent when neurons evolve to have smaller soma. Our study thus reveals a PNS counterpart of CNS microglia that regulates neuronal soma size during both evolution and ontogeny.
Insights
Researchers discovered peripheral nervous system (PNS) microglia-like cells, crucial for neuron size regulation and function. These cells, similar to central nervous system (CNS) microglia, are vital for neuronal development and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Microglia are key immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS).
- Historically, microglia were believed to be absent from the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a novel macrophage population in the PNS.
- To investigate the origin, function, and evolutionary significance of this PNS cell population.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling of PNS macrophages.
- Phylogenetic analysis across 24 vertebrate species.
- Functional studies on neuronal development and size regulation.
Main Results:
- A PNS macrophage population, termed PNS microglia-like cells, was identified.
- These cells share molecular and developmental profiles with CNS microglia.
- PNS microglia-like cells regulate neuronal soma size and axon growth, and their presence correlates with neuronal soma size across vertebrates.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a PNS counterpart to CNS microglia.
- PNS microglia-like cells play a critical role in regulating neuronal soma size during development and evolution.
- The findings redefine the distribution and function of microglia-related cells in the nervous system.
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