PLoS Biology (Oct 2018)

Peripherally derived macrophages modulate microglial function to reduce inflammation after CNS injury.

  • Andrew D Greenhalgh,
  • Juan G Zarruk,
  • Luke M Healy,
  • Sam J Baskar Jesudasan,
  • Priya Jhelum,
  • Christopher K Salmon,
  • Albert Formanek,
  • Matthew V Russo,
  • Jack P Antel,
  • Dorian B McGavern,
  • Barry W McColl,
  • Samuel David

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2005264
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 10
p. e2005264

Abstract

Read online

Infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and resident microglia dominate central nervous system (CNS) injury sites. Differential roles for these cell populations after injury are beginning to be uncovered. Here, we show evidence that MDMs and microglia directly communicate with one another and differentially modulate each other's functions. Importantly, microglia-mediated phagocytosis and inflammation are suppressed by infiltrating macrophages. In the context of spinal cord injury (SCI), preventing such communication increases microglial activation and worsens functional recovery. We suggest that macrophages entering the CNS provide a regulatory mechanism that controls acute and long-term microglia-mediated inflammation, which may drive damage in a variety of CNS conditions.