Microglial phagocytosis of single dying oligodendrocytes is mediated by CX3CR1 but not MERTK.

ABSTRACT: Oligodendrocyte death is common in aging and neurodegenerative disease. In these conditions, dying oligodendrocytes must be efficiently removed to allow remyelination and to prevent a feedforward degenerative cascade. Removal of this cellular debris is thought to primarily be carried out by resident microglia. To investigate the cellular dynamics underlying how microglia do this, we use a single-cell cortical demyelination model combined with longitudinal intravital imaging of dual-labeled transgenic mice. Following phagocytosis, single microglia clear the targeted oligodendrocyte and its myelin sheaths in one day via a precise, rapid, and stereotyped sequence. Deletion of the fractalkine receptor, CX3CR1, delays the microglial phagocytosis of the cell soma but has no effect on clearance o

SUBMITTER: Olveda GE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11304498 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature