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Uncovering new details of the brain's first line of defense

Researchers report in unprecedented detail how some of the brain's immune cells develop, and how to distinguish them from other cells

Date:
May 20, 2022
Source:
Kyushu University
Summary:
A research team has mapped out the development and genetic trajectory of previously understudied macrophages associated with the central nervous system. Among other things, the team found that meningeal macrophages are formed during gestation and develop in the same way as microglia, while perivascular macrophages develop after birth. Their new insights could pave the way for better understanding the origins and mechanisms behind leading brain-related pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease.
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FULL STORY

Thanks to over a century of modern neuroscience, we have made significant strides in our understanding of the brain. Nonetheless, we have only just begun to scratch the surface of how this amazingly complex organ works.

Digging deeper into this perplexing puzzle, researchers from Kyushu University's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences have now analyzed in unprecedented detail the development and genetic profile of a set of cells that construct the brain's immune system.

Their new insights, published in the journal Nature, could pave the way for better understanding the origins and mechanisms behind leading brain-related pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.

"Many people are familiar with how neurons connect together to send signals across the brain, but there are also blood vessels that supply the brain with oxygen, and glial cells that act as the brain's support network and immune system," explains Takahiro Masuda, who led the study. "In fact, even the most generous estimates suggest only about half of the cells in our brains are neurons, so studying the other cells is just as vital for uncovering how the brain works."

With this in mind, the research team has been focusing on a series of cells called 'central nervous system associated macrophages' a type of immune cells that protect the brain from infection. These macrophages are thought to be involved in almost all known neurodegenerative diseases due to their critical role as the immune cells of the brain.

Over the years, research has shown that many different kinds of these cells exist. For this study, the team was particularly interested in the macrophages surrounding blood vessels and those located in the meninges -- the layers that surround the brain -- known as 'perivascular macrophages' and 'meningeal macrophages,' respectively.

"Until now, these cells were not distinguished from other immune cells, and how and where these critical cells develop was significantly understudied," continues Masuda. "So, we investigated fundamental characteristics of these cells, such as how to distinguish them from other cells in the brain, their exact locations, how they develop, what kind of genes they express, and how they interact with other cells."

These macrophages, along with the brain's other immune cells called microglia, originate from outside the embryo in an area known as the 'yolk sac.' As the organism develops, cells migrate from the yolk sac into the brain. Using a technique called 'fate-mapping,' the team precisely traced where these cells ended up and discerned what leads them to become perivascular macrophages and meningeal macrophages.

"We found that meningeal macrophages develop in the same way as other microglia and are formed during gestation. Perivascular macrophages, on the other hand, actually begin to form after birth, and originate from the meningeal macrophages. This was very unexpected," states Masuda.

Through their research, the team was also able to identify the specific genes that lead to the generation of meningeal and perivascular macrophages.

"Identification of these genes will finally allow us to distinguish meningeal and perivascular macrophages from other microglia," explains Masuda. "Now that we can study them individually, we can get a clearer picture of their functions."

These findings are expected to open new avenues of understanding on the role of these cells in the brain.

"Now that we know they are distinct, the next step is to figure out their functions. As their mechanisms are revealed, we hope to understand their role in pathologies like Alzheimer's, autism spectrum disorder, and multiple sclerosis," concludes Masuda.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Kyushu University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Takahiro Masuda, Lukas Amann, Gianni Monaco, Roman Sankowski, Ori Staszewski, Martin Krueger, Francesca Del Gaudio, Liqun He, Neil Paterson, Elisa Nent, Francisco Fernández-Klett, Ayato Yamasaki, Maximilian Frosch, Maximilian Fliegauf, Lance Fredrick Pahutan Bosch, Hatice Ulupinar, Nora Hagemeyer, Dietmar Schreiner, Cayce Dorrier, Makoto Tsuda, Claudia Grothe, Anne Joutel, Richard Daneman, Christer Betsholtz, Urban Lendahl, Klaus-Peter Knobeloch, Tim Lämmermann, Josef Priller, Katrin Kierdorf, Marco Prinz. Specification of CNS macrophage subsets occurs postnatally in defined niches. Nature, 2022; 604 (7907): 740 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04596-2

Cite This Page:

Kyushu University. "Uncovering new details of the brain's first line of defense." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 May 2022. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220520101349.htm>.
Kyushu University. (2022, May 20). Uncovering new details of the brain's first line of defense. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220520101349.htm
Kyushu University. "Uncovering new details of the brain's first line of defense." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220520101349.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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