A combination of ontogeny and environment drives macrophage identity across brain regions

Hannah Van Hove

Research output: ThesisPhD Thesis

93 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Microglia, the brain's resident macrophages, are dynamic CNS custodians with surprising origins in the extra-embryonic yolk sac. The consequences of their distinct ontogeny are unknown but critical to understanding and treating brain diseases. We created a brain macrophage transplantation system to disentangle how environment and ontogeny specify microglial identity. We find that donor cells extensively engraft in the CNS of microglia-deficient mice, and even after exposure to a cell culture environment, microglia fully regain their identity when returned to the CNS. Though transplanted macrophages from multiple tissues can express microglial genes in the brain, only those of yolk-sac origin fully attain microglial identity. Transplanted macrophages of inappropriate origin, including primary human cells in a humanized host, express disease-associated genes and specific ontogeny markers. Through brain macrophage transplantation, we discover new principles of microglial identity that have broad applications to the study of disease and development of myeloid cell therapies. Bennett et al. create a macrophage transplantation system to measure how origin and brain environment contribute to microglial identity. Although diverse macrophage types survive in the brain, only those sharing developmental origins with microglia express microglial genes normally.
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Movahedi, Kiavash, Supervisor
  • Van Ginderachter, Jo, Supervisor
Award date8 Jun 2022
Place of PublicationBrussel
Publisher
Print ISBNs 9789464443271
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A combination of ontogeny and environment drives macrophage identity across brain regions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this