Microglia provide structural resolution to injured dendrites after severe seizures

Glial changes in the dentate gyrus of neuronal-specific PTEN knockout mice correlate with changes in cell proliferation

Dysregulated hippocampal neurogenesis is a feature of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), marked by increased neuronal proliferation. The tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) regulates neuronal proliferation, and its deletion is implicated in TLE. We have previously shown that deletion of neuronal subset-specific (NS)-PTEN in mice increases the number of proliferating cells throughout the dentate gyrus, including subregions that are typically devoid of neurons but rich in glial cells, most notably the Hilus and Molecular Layer. In this study, we hypothesized that NS-PTEN knockout mice would exhibit increased numbers of microglia and astrocytes in these same dentate gyrus subregions. We performed immunohistochemistry for Iba1 (microglia) and GFAP (reactive astrocytes) on wild-type and NS-PTEN knockout mice at 4 and 10 weeks of age. Our data reveal that NS-PTEN knockout mice exhibit increased Iba1+ cell density at both ages, with some male-specific effects. Subregional analysis of the dentate gyrus showed that at 4 weeks, NS-PTEN knockout mice had greater Iba1+ cell density in the Granule Cell Layer (GCL) and Hilus, and at 10 weeks, increases were observed in the GCL, Hilus, and Molecular Layer. Additionally, we observed an increased number of microglia with an amoeboid morphology and fewer with thin, ramified processes. Contrast to Iba1+ microglia, GFAP+ reactive astrocytes were localized to the neurogenic GCL. Importantly, increases in both glial types strongly correlated with heightened cell proliferation (Ki67+ cells), as reported in our previous study, underscoring the role of glial cells in the spatial dysregulation of neurogenesis in NS-PTEN knockout mice.

GPNMB and ATP6V1A interact to mediate microglia phagocytosis of multiple types of pathological particles

Pronounced elevation of glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma B (GPNMB) is a common phenomenon in a variety of brain diseases, but the expression patterns, functions, and molecular signaling of GPNMB have not been well studied. Here, we showed that pathological factors, including neuronal degeneration caused by seizures, caspase-3-induced neuronal apoptosis, neuronal debris, and β-amyloid, induced "on-demand" GPNMB expression in hippocampal microglia. Genetic ablation of GPNMB did not affect acute seizures but worsened chronic epileptogenesis. We found that GPNMB functioned in phagocytosis, deficiency of which resulted in defects in both phagocytic engulfment and degradation. GPNMB could be internalized into cells, where it wrapped engulfed pathogenic particles and presented them to lysosomes through interaction with lysosomal vacuolar-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A (ATP6V1A). Activating ATP6V1A was able to rescue GPNMB-deficiency-caused phagocytosis impairment. Thus, microglial GPNMB-ATP6V1A might be a common treatment target of a batch of chronic neurological disorders, and clearing the degenerative neurons might be more valuable than reserving them to protect the brain.

Microglial Regulation of Neural Networks in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Microglia serve as vital innate immune cells in the central nervous system, playing crucial roles in the generation and development of brain neurons, as well as mediating a series of immune and inflammatory responses. The morphologic transitions of microglia are closely linked to their function. With the advent of single-cell sequencing technology, the diversity of microglial subtypes is increasingly recognized. The intricate interactions between microglia and neuronal networks have significant implications for psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. A deeper investigation of microglia in neurologic diseases such as Alzheimer disease, depression, and epilepsy can provide valuable insights in understanding the pathogenesis of diseases and exploring novel therapeutic strategies, thereby addressing issues related to central nervous system disorders.

Morphine self-administration is inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and the anti-inflammatory ibudilast; an effect enhanced by their co-administration

BACKGROUND

The treatment of opioid addiction mainly involves the medical administration of methadone or other opioids, aimed at gradually reducing dependence and, consequently, the need for illicit opioid procurement. Thus, initiating opioid maintenance therapy with a lower level of dependence would be advantageous. There is compelling evidence indicating that opioids induce brain oxidative stress and associated glial activation, resulting in the dysregulation of glutamatergic homeostasis, which perpetuates drug intake. The present study aimed to determine whether inhibiting oxidative stress and/or neuroinflammation reduces morphine self-administration in an animal model of opioid dependence.

METHODS

Morphine dependence, assessed as voluntary morphine self-administration, was evaluated in Wistar-derived UChB rats. Following an extended period of morphine self-administration, animals were administered either the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 40 mg/kg/day), the anti-inflammatory ibudilast (7.5 mg/kg/day) or the combination of both agents. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation were evaluated in the hippocampus, a region involved in drug recall that feeds into the nucleus accumbens, where the levels of the glutamate transporters GLT-1 and xCT were further assessed.

RESULTS

Daily administration of either NAC or ibudilast led to a mild reduction in voluntary morphine intake, while the co-administration of both therapeutic agents resulted in a marked inhibition (-57%) of morphine self-administration. The administration of NAC or ibudilast markedly reduced both the oxidative stress induced by chronic morphine intake and the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus. However, only the combined administration of NAC + ibudilast was able to restore the normal levels of the glutamate transporter GLT-1 in the nucleus accumbens.

CONCLUSION

Separate or joint administration of an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent reduced voluntary opioid intake, which could have translational value for the treatment of opioid use disorders, particularly in settings where the continued maintenance of oral opioids is a therapeutic option.

In vivo imaging in mouse spinal cord reveals that microglia prevent degeneration of injured axons

Microglia, the primary immune cells in the central nervous system, play a critical role in regulating neuronal function and fate through their interaction with neurons. Despite extensive research, the specific functions and mechanisms of microglia-neuron interactions remain incompletely understood. In this study, we demonstrate that microglia establish direct contact with myelinated axons at Nodes of Ranvier in the spinal cord of mice. The contact associated with neuronal activity occurs in a random scanning pattern. In response to axonal injury, microglia rapidly transform their contact into a robust wrapping form, preventing acute axonal degeneration from extending beyond the nodes. This wrapping behavior is dependent on the function of microglial P2Y12 receptors, which may be activated by ATP released through axonal volume-activated anion channels at the nodes. Additionally, voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) and two-pore-domain potassium (K2P) channels contribute to the interaction between nodes and glial cells following injury, and inhibition of NaV delays axonal degeneration. Through in vivo imaging, our findings reveal a neuroprotective role of microglia during the acute phase of single spinal cord axon injury, achieved through neuron-glia interaction.

NS-Pten knockout mice exhibit sex and hippocampal subregion-specific increases in microglia/macrophage density

Seizures induce hippocampal subregion dependent enhancements in microglia/macrophage phagocytosis and cytokine release that may contribute to the development of epilepsy. As a model of hyperactive mTOR induced epilepsy, neuronal subset specific phosphatase and tensin homolog (NS-Pten) knockout (KO) mice exhibit hyperactive mTOR signaling in the hippocampus, seizures that progress with age, and enhanced hippocampal microglia/macrophage activation. However, it is unknown where microglia/macrophages are most active within the hippocampus of NS-Pten KO mice. We quantified the density of IBA1 positive microglia/macrophages in the CA1, CA2/3, and dentate gyrus of NS-Pten KO and wildtype (WT) male and female mice at 4, 10, and 15 weeks of age. NS-Pten KO mice exhibited an overall increase in the number of IBA1 positive microglia/macrophages in each subregion and in the entire hippocampus. After accounting for differences in size, the whole hippocampus of NS-Pten KO mice still exhibited an increased density of IBA1 positive microglia/macrophages. Subregion analyses showed that this increase was restricted to the dentate gyrus of both male and female NS-Pten KO mice and to the CA1 of male NS-Pten KO mice. These data suggest enhanced microglia/macrophage activity may occur in the NS-Pten KO mice in a hippocampal subregion and sex-dependent manner. Future work should seek to determine whether these region-specific increases in microgliosis play a role in the progression of epilepsy in this model.

Toxicity profiles of immune checkpoint inhibitors in nervous system cancer: a comprehensive disproportionality analysis using FDA adverse event reporting system

BACKGROUND

Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) always occur during treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Patients with nervous system cancer (NSC) may gain clinical benefit from ICIs, but irAEs in NSC patients are rarely examined. Therefore, our study systematically summarized reports of irAEs in NSC.

METHODS

We obtained information from the FDA adverse event reporting system from the first quarter (Q1) of 2013 to the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022. We examined use of a combination of ICIs and chemotherapy (ICI_Chemo) or chemotherapy only (ICI_Chemo) for patients with NSC. Multiple disproportionality analyses were applied to assess irAEs. Multiomics data from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed to explore potential molecular mechanisms associated with irAEs in NSC patients.

RESULTS

Fourteen irAEs were identified in 8,357 NSC patients after removing duplicates; the top five events were seizure, confused state, encephalopathy, muscular weakness and gait disturbance. Older patients were more likely to develop irAEs than were younger patients. From the start of ICIs_Chemo to irAE occurrence, there was a significant difference in the time to onset of irAEs between age groups. irAEs may occur via mechanisms involving the inflammatory response, secretion of inflammatory mediators, and aberrant activation of pathologic pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

This study helps to characterize irAEs in NSC patients treated with ICIs. We combined GEO database analysis to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of irAEs. The results of this study provide a basis for improving the toxic effects of ICIs in NSC patients.

Microglia-neuron-vascular interactions in ischemia

Cerebral ischemia is a devastating condition that results in impaired blood flow in the brain leading to acute brain injury. As the most common form of stroke, occlusion of cerebral arteries leads to a characteristic sequence of pathophysiological changes in the brain tissue. The mechanisms involved, and comorbidities that determine outcome after an ischemic event appear to be highly heterogeneous. On their own, the processes leading to neuronal injury in the absence of sufficient blood supply to meet the metabolic demand of the cells are complex and manifest at different temporal and spatial scales. While the contribution of non-neuronal cells to stroke pathophysiology is increasingly recognized, recent data show that microglia, the main immune cells of the central nervous system parenchyma, play previously unrecognized roles in basic physiological processes beyond their inflammatory functions, which markedly change during ischemic conditions. In this review, we aim to discuss some of the known microglia-neuron-vascular interactions assumed to contribute to the acute and delayed pathologies after cerebral ischemia. Because the mechanisms of neuronal injury have been extensively discussed in several excellent previous reviews, here we focus on some recently explored pathways that may directly or indirectly shape neuronal injury through microglia-related actions. These discoveries suggest that modulating gliovascular processes in different forms of stroke and other neurological disorders might have presently unexplored therapeutic potential in combination with neuroprotective and flow restoration strategies.

CCR2+ monocytes replenish border-associated macrophages in the diseased mouse brain

Border-associated macrophages (BAMs) are tissue-resident macrophages that reside at the border of the central nervous system (CNS). Since BAMs originate from yolk sac progenitors that do not persist after birth, the means by which this population of cells is maintained is not well understood. Using two-photon microscopy and multiple lineage-tracing strategies, we determine that CCR2+ monocytes are significant contributors to BAM populations following disruptions of CNS homeostasis in adult mice. After BAM depletion, while the residual BAMs possess partial self-repopulation capability, the CCR2+ monocytes are a critical source of the repopulated BAMs. In addition, we demonstrate the existence of CCR2+ monocyte-derived long-lived BAMs in a brain compression model and in a sepsis model after the initial disruption of homeostasis. Our study reveals that the short-lived CCR2+ monocytes transform into long-lived BAM-like cells at the CNS border and subsequently contribute to BAM populations.

Tuning neural circuits and behaviors by microglia in the adult brain

Microglia are the primary immune cells of the CNS, contributing to both inflammatory damage and tissue repair in neurological disorder. In addition, emerging evidence highlights the role of homeostatic microglia in regulating neuronal activity, interacting with synapses, tuning neural circuits, and modulating behaviors. Herein, we review how microglia sense and regulate neuronal activity through synaptic interactions, thereby directly engaging with neural networks and behaviors. We discuss current studies utilizing microglial optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches to modulate adult neural circuits. These manipulations of microglia across different CNS regions lead to diverse behavioral consequences. We propose that spatial heterogeneity of microglia-neuron interaction lays the groundwork for understanding diverse functions of microglia in neural circuits and behaviors.

Progress in Structural and Functional In Vivo Imaging of Microglia and Their Application in Health and Disease

The first line of defense for the central nervous system (CNS) against injury or disease is provided by microglia. Microglia were long believed to stay in a dormant/resting state, reacting only to injury or disease. This view changed dramatically with the development of modern imaging techniques that allowed the study of microglial behavior in the intact brain over time, to reveal the dynamic nature of their responses. Over the past two decades, in vivo imaging using multiphoton microscopy has revealed numerous new functions of microglia in the developing, adult, aged, injured, and diseased CNS. As the most dynamic cells in the brain, microglia continuously contact all structures and cell types, such as glial and vascular cells, neuronal cell bodies, axons, dendrites, and dendritic spines, and are believed to play a central role in sculpting neuronal networks throughout life. Following trauma, or in neurodegenerative or neuroinflammatory diseases, microglial responses range from protective to harmful, underscoring the need to better understand their diverse roles and states in different pathological conditions. In this chapter, we introduce multiphoton microscopy and discuss recent advances in structural and functional imaging technologies that have expanded our toolbox to study microglial states and behaviors in new ways and depths. We also discuss relevant mouse models available for in vivo imaging studies of microglia and review how such studies are constantly refining our understanding of the multifaceted role of microglia in the healthy and diseased CNS.

Contactomics of Microglia and Intercellular Communication

Microglia represent the main immunocompetent cell type in the parenchyma of the brain and the spinal cord, with roles extending way beyond their immune functions. While emerging data show the pivotal role of microglia in brain development, brain health and brain diseases, the exact mechanisms through which microglia contribute to complex neuroimmune interactions are still largely unclear. Understanding the communication between microglia and other cells represents an important cornerstone of these interactions, which may provide novel opportunities for therapeutic interventions in neurological or psychiatric disorders. As such, in line with studying the effects of the numerous soluble mediators that influence neuroimmune processes, attention on physical interactions between microglia and other cells in the CNS has increased substantially in recent years. In this chapter, we briefly summarize the latest literature on "microglial contactomics" and its functional implications in health and disease.

Highly dynamic inflammatory and excitability transcriptional profiles in hippocampal CA1 following status epilepticus

Transient brain insults including status epilepticus (SE) can initiate a process termed 'epileptogenesis' that results in chronic temporal lobe epilepsy. As a consequence, the entire tri-synaptic circuit of the hippocampus is fundamentally impaired. A key role in epileptogenesis has been attributed to the CA1 region as the last relay station in the hippocampal circuit and as site of aberrant plasticity, e.g. mediated by acquired channelopathies. The transcriptional profiles of the distinct hippocampal neurons are highly dynamic during epileptogenesis. Here, we aimed to elucidate the early SE-elicited mRNA signature changes and the respective upstream regulatory cascades in CA1. RNA sequencing of CA1 was performed in the mouse pilocarpine-induced SE model at multiple time points ranging from 6 to 72 h after the initial insult. Bioinformatics was used to decipher altered gene expression, signalling cascades and their corresponding cell type profiles. Robust transcriptomic changes were detected at 6 h after SE and at subsequent time points during early epileptogenesis. Major differentially expressed mRNAs encoded primarily immediate early and excitability-related gene products, as well as genes encoding immune signalling factors. Binding sites for the transcription factors Nfkb1, Spi1, Irf8, and two Runx family members, were enriched within promoters of differentially expressed genes related to major inflammatory processes, whereas the transcriptional repressors Suz12, Nfe2l2 and Rest were associated with hyperexcitability and GABA / glutamate receptor activity. CA1 quickly responds to SE by inducing transcription of genes linked to inflammation and excitation stress. Transcription factors mediating this transcriptomic switch represent targets for new highly selected, cell type and time window-specific anti-epileptogenic strategies.

Neuronal dysfunction caused by FUSR521G promotes ALS-associated phenotypes that are attenuated by NF-κB inhibition

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are related neurodegenerative diseases that belong to a common disease spectrum based on overlapping clinical, pathological and genetic evidence. Early pathological changes to the morphology and synapses of affected neuron populations in ALS/FTD suggest a common underlying mechanism of disease that requires further investigation. Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a DNA/RNA-binding protein with known genetic and pathological links to ALS/FTD. Expression of ALS-linked FUS mutants in mice causes cognitive and motor defects, which correlate with loss of motor neuron dendritic branching and synapses, in addition to other pathological features of ALS/FTD. The role of ALS-linked FUS mutants in causing ALS/FTD-associated disease phenotypes is well established, but there are significant gaps in our understanding of the cell-autonomous role of FUS in promoting structural changes to motor neurons, and how these changes relate to disease progression. Here we generated a neuron-specific FUS-transgenic mouse model expressing the ALS-linked human FUSR521G variant, hFUSR521G/Syn1, to investigate the cell-autonomous role of FUSR521G in causing loss of dendritic branching and synapses of motor neurons, and to understand how these changes relate to ALS-associated phenotypes. Longitudinal analysis of mice revealed that cognitive impairments in juvenile hFUSR521G/Syn1 mice coincide with reduced dendritic branching of cortical motor neurons in the absence of motor impairments or changes in the neuromorphology of spinal motor neurons. Motor impairments and dendritic attrition of spinal motor neurons developed later in aged hFUSR521G/Syn1 mice, along with FUS cytoplasmic mislocalisation, mitochondrial abnormalities and glial activation. Neuroinflammation promotes neuronal dysfunction and drives disease progression in ALS/FTD. The therapeutic effects of inhibiting the pro-inflammatory nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway with an analog of Withaferin A, IMS-088, were assessed in symptomatic hFUSR521G/Syn1 mice and were found to improve cognitive and motor function, increase dendritic branches and synapses of motor neurons, and attenuate other ALS/FTD-associated pathological features. Treatment of primary cortical neurons expressing FUSR521G with IMS-088 promoted the restoration of dendritic mitochondrial numbers and mitochondrial activity to wild-type levels, suggesting that inhibition of NF-κB permits the restoration of mitochondrial stasis in our models. Collectively, this work demonstrates that FUSR521G has a cell-autonomous role in causing early pathological changes to dendritic and synaptic structures of motor neurons, and that these changes precede motor defects and other well-known pathological features of ALS/FTD. Finally, these findings provide further support that modulation of the NF-κB pathway in ALS/FTD is an important therapeutic approach to attenuate disease.

Cell-specific NFIA upregulation promotes epileptogenesis by TRPV4-mediated astrocyte reactivity

BACKGROUND

The astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) exhibit morphological and functional diversity in brain region-specific pattern. Functional alterations of reactive astrocytes are commonly present in human temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) cases, meanwhile the neuroinflammation mediated by reactive astrocytes may advance the development of hippocampal epilepsy in animal models. Nuclear factor I-A (NFIA) may regulate astrocyte diversity in the adult brain. However, whether NFIA endows the astrocytes with regional specificity to be involved in epileptogenesis remains elusive.

METHODS

Here, we utilize an interference RNA targeting NFIA to explore the characteristics of NFIA expression and its role in astrocyte reactivity in a 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced seizure model in vivo and in vitro. Combined with the employment of a HA-tagged plasmid overexpressing NFIA, we further investigate the precise mechanisms how NIFA facilitates epileptogenesis.

RESULTS

4-AP-induced NFIA upregulation in hippocampal region is astrocyte-specific, and primarily promotes detrimental actions of reactive astrocyte. In line with this phenomenon, both NFIA and vanilloid transient receptor potential 4 (TRPV4) are upregulated in hippocampal astrocytes in human samples from the TLE surgical patients and mouse samples with intraperitoneal 4-AP. NFIA directly regulates mouse astrocytic TRPV4 expression while the quantity and the functional activity of TRPV4 are required for 4-AP-induced astrocyte reactivity and release of proinflammatory cytokines in the charge of NFIA upregulation. NFIA deficiency efficiently inhibits 4-AP-induced TRPV4 upregulation, weakens astrocytic calcium activity and specific astrocyte reactivity, thereby mitigating aberrant neuronal discharges and neuronal damage, and suppressing epileptic seizure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results uncover the critical role of NFIA in astrocyte reactivity and illustrate how epileptogenic brain injury initiates cell-specific signaling pathway to dictate the astrocyte responses.

Shadow imaging for panoptical visualization of brain tissue in vivo

Progress in neuroscience research hinges on technical advances in visualizing living brain tissue with high fidelity and facility. Current neuroanatomical imaging approaches either require tissue fixation (electron microscopy), do not have cellular resolution (magnetic resonance imaging) or only give a fragmented view (fluorescence microscopy). Here, we show how regular light microscopy together with fluorescence labeling of the interstitial fluid in the extracellular space provide comprehensive optical access in real-time to the anatomical complexity and dynamics of living brain tissue at submicron scale. Using several common fluorescence microscopy modalities (confocal, light-sheet and 2-photon microscopy) in mouse organotypic and acute brain slices and the intact mouse brain in vivo, we demonstrate the value of this straightforward 'shadow imaging' approach by revealing neurons, microglia, tumor cells and blood capillaries together with their complete anatomical tissue contexts. In addition, we provide quantifications of perivascular spaces and the volume fraction of the extracellular space of brain tissue in vivo.

Preferential pruning of inhibitory synapses by microglia contributes to alteration of the balance between excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the hippocampus in temporal lobe epilepsy

BACKGROUND

A consensus has formed that neural circuits in the brain underlie the pathogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). In particular, the synaptic excitation/inhibition balance (E/I balance) has been implicated in shifting towards elevated excitation during the development of TLE.

METHODS

Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were intraperitoneally subjected to kainic acid (KA) to generate a model of TLE. Next, electroencephalography (EEG) recording was applied to verify the stability and detectability of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) in rats. Moreover, hippocampal slices from rats and patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) were assessed using immunofluorescence to determine the alterations of excitatory and inhibitory synapses and microglial phagocytosis.

RESULTS

We found that KA induced stable SRSs 14 days after status epilepticus (SE) onset. Furthermore, we discovered a continuous increase in excitatory synapses during epileptogenesis, where the total area of vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGluT1) rose considerably in the stratum radiatum (SR) of cornu ammonis 1 (CA1), the stratum lucidum (SL) of CA3, and the polymorphic layer (PML) of the dentate gyrus (DG). In contrast, inhibitory synapses decreased significantly, with the total area of glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) in the SL and PML diminishing enormously. Moreover, microglia conducted active synaptic phagocytosis after the formation of SRSs, especially in the SL and PML. Finally, microglia preferentially pruned inhibitory synapses during recurrent seizures in both rat and human hippocampal slices, which contributed to the synaptic alteration in hippocampal subregions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings elaborately characterize the alteration of neural circuits and demonstrate the selectivity of synaptic phagocytosis mediated by microglia in TLE, which could strengthen the comprehension of the pathogenesis of TLE and inspire potential therapeutic targets for epilepsy treatment.

Microglia in epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of most common chronic neurological disorders, and the antiseizure medications developed by targeting neurocentric mechanisms have not effectively reduced the proportion of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Further exploration of the cellular or molecular mechanism of epilepsy is expected to provide new options for treatment. Recently, more and more researches focus on brain network components other than neurons, among which microglia have attracted much attention for their diverse biological functions. As the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, microglia have highly plastic transcription, morphology and functional characteristics, which can change dynamically in a context-dependent manner during the progression of epilepsy. In the pathogenesis of epilepsy, highly reactive microglia interact with other components in the epileptogenic network by performing crucial functions such as secretion of soluble factors and phagocytosis, thus continuously reshaping the landscape of the epileptic brain microenvironment. Indeed, microglia appear to be both pro-epileptic and anti-epileptic under the different spatiotemporal contexts of disease, rendering interventions targeting microglia biologically complex and challenging. This comprehensive review critically summarizes the pathophysiological role of microglia in epileptic brain homeostasis alterations and explores potential therapeutic or modulatory targets for epilepsy targeting microglia.

Seizure-induced increase in microglial cell population in the developing zebrafish brain

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder characterized by unprovoked and recurrent seizures, of which 60% are of unknown etiology. Recent studies implicate microglia in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. However, their role in this process, in particular following early-life seizures, remains poorly understood due in part to the lack of suitable experimental models allowing the in vivo imaging of microglial activity. Given the advantage of zebrafish larvae for minimally-invasive imaging approaches, we sought for the first time to describe the microglial responses after acute seizures in two different zebrafish larval models: a chemically-induced epileptic model by the systemic injection of kainate at 3 days post-fertilization, and the didys552 genetic epilepsy model, which carries a mutation in scn1lab that leads to spontaneous epileptiform discharges. Kainate-treated larvae exhibited transient brain damage as shown by increased numbers of apoptotic nuclei as early as one day post-injection, which was followed by an increase in the number of microglia in the brain. A similar microglial phenotype was also observed in didys552-/- mutants, suggesting that microglia numbers change in response to seizure-like activity in the brain. Interestingly, kainate-treated larvae also displayed a decreased seizure threshold towards subsequent pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures, as shown by higher locomotor and encephalographic activity in comparison with vehicle-injected larvae. These results are comparable to kainate-induced rodent seizure models and suggest the suitability of these zebrafish seizure models for future studies, in particular to elucidate the links between epileptogenesis and microglial dynamic changes after seizure induction in the developing brain, and to understand how these modulate seizure susceptibility.

The role of dendritic spines in epileptogenesis

Epilepsy is a chronic central nervous system (CNS) disease associated with high morbidity. To date, there is no known disease-modifying therapy for epilepsy. A leading hypothesis for a mechanism of epileptogenesis is the generation of aberrant neuronal networks. Although the underlying biological mechanism is not clear, scientific evidence indicates that it is associated with a hyperexcitable synchronous neuronal network and active dendritic spine plasticity. Changes in dendritic spine morphology are related to altered expression of synaptic cytoskeletal proteins, inflammatory molecules, neurotrophic factors, and extracellular matrix signaling. However, it remains to be determined if these aberrant dendritic spine formations lead to neuronal hyperexcitability and abnormal synaptic connections or whether they constitute an underlying mechanism of seizure susceptibility. Focusing on dendritic spine machinery as a potential target for medications could limit or reverse the development of epilepsy.

Microglia play beneficial roles in multiple experimental seizure models

Seizure disorders are common, affecting both the young and the old. Currently available antiseizure drugs are ineffective in a third of patients and have been developed with a focus on known neurocentric mechanisms, raising the need for investigations into alternative and complementary mechanisms that contribute to seizure generation or its containment. Neuroinflammation, broadly defined as the activation of immune cells and molecules in the central nervous system (CNS), has been proposed to facilitate seizure generation, although the specific cells involved in these processes remain inadequately understood. The role of microglia, the primary inflammation-competent cells of the brain, is debated since previous studies were conducted using approaches that were less specific to microglia or had inherent confounds. Using a selective approach to target microglia without such side effects, we show a broadly beneficial role for microglia in limiting chemoconvulsive, electrical, and hyperthermic seizures and argue for a further understanding of microglial contributions to contain seizures.

Neural Circuit Changes in Neurological Disorders: Evidence from in vivo Two-photon Imaging

Neural circuits, such as synaptic plasticity and neural activity, are critical components of healthy brain function. The consequent dynamic remodeling of neural circuits is an ongoing procedure affecting neuronal activities. Disruption of this essential process results in diseases. Advanced microscopic applications such as two-photon laser scanning microscopy have recently been applied to understand neural circuit changes during disease since it can visualize fine structural and functional cellular activation in living animals. In this review, we have summarized the latest work assessing the dynamic rewiring of postsynaptic dendritic spines and modulation of calcium transients in neurons of the intact living brain, focusing on their potential roles in neurological disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and epilepsy). Understanding the fine changes that occurred in the brain during disease is crucial for future clinical intervention developments.

Microglia-mediated synaptic pruning as a key deficit in neurodevelopmental disorders: Hype or hope?

There is a consensus in the field that microglia play a prominent role in neurodevelopmental processes like synaptic pruning and neuronal network maturation. Thus, a current momentum of associating microglia deficits with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) emerged. This concept is challenged by rodent studies and clinical data. Intriguingly, reduced numbers of microglia or altered microglial functions do not necessarily lead to overt NDD phenotypes, and neuropsychiatric symptoms seem to develop primarily in adulthood. Hence, it remains open for discussion whether microglia are truly indispensable for healthy neurodevelopment. Here, we critically discuss the role of microglia in synaptic pruning and highlight area- and age dependency. We propose an updated model of microglia-mediated synaptic pruning in the context of NDDs and discuss the potential of targeting microglia for treatment of these disorders.

Microglia play beneficial roles in multiple experimental seizure models

Seizure disorders are common, affecting both the young and the old. Currently available antiseizure drugs are ineffective in a third of patients and have been developed with a focus on known neurocentric mechanisms, raising the need for investigations into alternative and complementary mechanisms that contribute to seizure generation or its containment. Neuroinflammation, broadly defined as the activation of immune cells and molecules in the central nervous system (CNS), has been proposed to facilitate seizure generation, although the specific cells involved in these processes remain inadequately understood. The role of microglia, the primary inflammation-competent cells of the brain, is debated since previous studies were conducted using approaches that were less specific to microglia or had inherent confounds. Using a selective approach to target microglia without such side effects, we show a broadly beneficial role for microglia in limiting chemoconvulsive, electrical, and hyperthermic seizures and argue for a further understanding of microglial contributions to contain seizures.

Endocannabinoid signaling in microglia

Microglia, the innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), execute their sentinel, housekeeping and defense functions through a panoply of genes, receptors and released cytokines, chemokines and neurotrophic factors. Moreover, microglia functions are closely linked to the constant communication with other cell types, among them neurons. Depending on the signaling pathway and type of stimuli involved, the outcome of microglia operation can be neuroprotective or neurodegenerative. Accordingly, microglia are increasingly becoming considered cellular targets for therapeutic intervention. Among signals controlling microglia activity, the endocannabinoid (EC) system has been shown to exert a neuroprotective role in many neurological diseases. Like neurons, microglia express functional EC receptors and can produce and degrade ECs. Interestingly, boosting EC signaling leads to an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective microglia phenotype. Nonetheless, little evidence is available on the microglia-mediated therapeutic effects of EC compounds. This review focuses on the EC signals acting on the CNS microglia in physiological and pathological conditions, namely on the CB1R, CB2R and TRPV1-mediated regulation of microglia properties. It also provides new evidence, which strengthens the understanding of mechanisms underlying the control of microglia functions by ECs. Given the broad expression of the EC system in glial and neuronal cells, the resulting picture is the need for in vivo studies in transgenic mouse models to dissect the contribution of EC microglia signaling in the neuroprotective effects of EC-derived compounds.

Reactive morphology of dividing microglia following kainic acid administration

The microglial response to a pathological microenvironment is hallmarked by a change in cellular morphology. Following a pathological stimulus, microglia become reactive and simultaneously divide to create daughter cells. Although a wide array of microglial morphologies has been observed, the exact functions of these distinct morphologies are unknown, as are the morphology and reactivity status of dividing microglia. In this study, we used kainic acid to trigger microglial activation and cell division. Following a cortical kainic acid injection, microglial morphology and proliferation were examined at 3 days post-injection using immunohistochemistry for ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) to stain for microglia, and KI67 as a marker of cell division. Individual microglial cells were isolated from photomicrographs and skeletal and fractal analyses were used to examine cell size and spatial complexity. We examined the morphology of microglia in both wildtype and microglia-specific tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α knockout mice. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models or a two-way ANOVA. We found that dividing microglia had a more reactive morphology (larger cell body area, longer cell perimeter, and less ramification) compared to microglia that were not dividing, regardless of microglial release of TNF-α. However, we also observed dividing microglia with a complex, more ramified morphology. Changes in microglial morphology and division were greatest near the kainic acid injection site. This study uses robust and quantitative techniques to better understand microglial cell division, morphology, and population dynamics, which are essential for the development of novel therapeutics that target microglia.

Pathological consequences of chronic olfactory inflammation on neurite morphology of olfactory bulb projection neurons

Chronic olfactory inflammation (COI) in conditions such as chronic rhinosinusitis significantly impairs the functional and anatomical components of the olfactory system. COI induced by intranasal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) results in atrophy, gliosis, and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the olfactory bulb (OB). Although chronic rhinosinusitis patients have smaller OBs, the consequences of olfactory inflammation on OB neurons are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the neurological consequences of COI on OB projection neurons, mitral cells (MCs) and tufted cells (TCs). To induce COI, we performed unilateral intranasal administration of LPS to mice for 4 and 10 weeks. Effects of COI on the OB were examined using RNA-sequencing approaches and immunohistochemical analyses. We found that repeated LPS administration upregulated immune-related biological pathways in the OB after 4 weeks. We also determined that the length of TC lateral dendrites in the OB significantly decreased after 10 weeks of COI. The axon initial segment of TCs decreased in number and in length after 10 weeks of COI. The lateral dendrites and axon initial segments of MCs, however, were largely unaffected. In addition, dendritic arborization and AIS reconstruction both took place following a 10-week recovery period. Our findings suggest that olfactory inflammation specifically affects TCs and their integrated circuitry, whereas MCs are potentially protected from this condition. This data demonstrates unique characteristics of the OBs ability to undergo neuroplastic changes in response to stress.

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Early-stage chronic olfactory inflammation activates the ​interferon-γ-driven inflammatory pathways in the olfactory bulb.

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Tufted cells undergo neurite dysregulation in response to chronic olfactory inflammation.

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Mitral cells and interneurons in the external plexiform layer are largely unaffected by chronic olfactory inflammation.

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Tufted cells experience complete recovery from neurite dysregulation following a period of ceased inflammation

Axonal spheroids in neurodegeneration

Axonal spheroids are bubble-like biological features that form on most degenerating axons, yet little is known about their influence on degenerative processes. Their formation and growth has been observed in response to various degenerative triggers such as injury, oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, and neurotoxic molecules. They often contain cytoskeletal elements and organelles, and, depending on the pathological insult, can colocalize with disease-related proteins such as amyloid precursor protein (APP), ubiquitin, and motor proteins. Initial formation of axonal spheroids depends on the disruption of axonal and membrane tension governed by cytoskeleton structure and calcium levels. Shortly after spheroid formation, the engulfment signal phosphatidylserine (PS) is exposed on the outer leaflet of spheroid plasma membrane, suggesting an important role for axonal spheroids in phagocytosis and debris clearance during degeneration. Spheroids can grow until they rupture, allowing pro-degenerative factors to exit the axon into extracellular space and accelerating neurodegeneration. Though much remains to be discovered in this area, axonal spheroid research promises to lend insight into the etiologies of neurodegenerative disease, and may be an important target for therapeutic intervention. This review summarizes over 100 years of work, describing what is known about axonal spheroid structure, regulation and function.

Microglia: Immune and non-immune functions

As resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS), microglia are associated with diverse functions essential to the developing and adult brain during homeostasis and disease. They are aided in their tasks by intricate bidirectional communication with other brain cells under steady-state conditions as well as with infiltrating peripheral immune cells during perturbations. Harmonious cell-cell communication involving microglia are considered crucial to maintain the healthy state of the tissue environment and to overcome pathology such as neuroinflammation. Analyses of such intercellular pathways have contributed to our understanding of the heterogeneous but context-associated microglial responses to environmental cues across neuropathology, including inflammatory conditions such as infections and autoimmunity, as well as immunosuppressive states as seen in brain tumors. Here, we summarize the latest evidence demonstrating how these interactions drive microglia immune and non-immune functions, which coordinate the transition from homeostatic to disease-related cellular states.

Plasticity of microglia

Microglial cells are the scions of foetal macrophages which invade the neural tube early during embryogenesis. The nervous tissue environment instigates the phenotypic metamorphosis of foetal macrophages into idiosyncratic surveilling microglia, which are generally characterised by a small cell body and highly ramified motile processes that constantly scan the nervous tissue for signs of changes in homeostasis and allow microglia to perform crucial homeostatic functions. The surveilling microglial phenotype is evolutionarily conserved from early invertebrates to humans. Despite this evolutionary conservation, microglia show substantial heterogeneity in their gene and protein expression, as well as morphological appearance. These differences are age, region and context specific and reflect a high degree of plasticity underlying the life-long adaptation of microglia, supporting the exceptional adaptive capacity of the central nervous system. Microgliocytes are essential elements of cellular network formation and refinement in the developing nervous tissue. Several distinct patrolling modes of microglial processes contribute to the formation, modification, and pruning of synapses; to the support and protection of neurones through microglial-somatic junctions; and to the control of neuronal and axonal excitability by specific microglia-axonal contacts. In pathology, microglia undergo proliferation and reactive remodelling known as microgliosis, which is context dependent, yet represents an evolutionarily conserved defence response. Microgliosis results in the emergence of multiple disease and context-specific reactive states; in addition, neuropathology is associated with the appearance of specific protective or recovery microglial forms. In summary, the plasticity of microglia supports the development and functional activity of healthy nervous tissue and provides highly sophisticated defences against disease.