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Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Identifying Microglia and Peripheral Infiltrating Macrophages in the Injured Spinal Cords Using Flow Cytometry
Published on: June 24, 2025
Treg-microglia partnership in the injured spinal cord preserves Treg cell function and regulates microglial
Tao Qin1, Tao Jiang1, Zihan Zhou1
1Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China; Jiangsu Institute of Functional Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, Jiangsu Provincial Clinical Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.
Abstract:
The spatiotemporal dynamics and specific roles of regulatory T (Treg) cells in spinal cord injury (SCI) remain unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence, we found that thymus-derived Treg cells infiltrate the injured spinal cord via peripheral blood around 3 days post-SCI. Treg cell depletion worsened SCI and impaired long-term recovery. Transcriptomic profiling revealed strong anti-inflammatory functions of Treg cells and the potential to regulate cholesterol metabolism in neighboring microglia. Further single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered the clonality of SCI-associated Treg cells. Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) expression on microglia, not macrophages, was crucial for sustaining Treg cell numbers and neuroprotective function, with myelin-phagocytosing microglia-activated Treg cells showing significant neuroprotective effects. Treg cells mitigated microglial inflammation via CTLA-4 and upregulated the ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (Abcg1) receptor in microglia, helping to manage myelin load and reduce lipid droplet formation. Our findings offer mechanistic insights into SCI-associated Treg cells and lay the groundwork for future Treg-based therapies in SCI treatment.
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