Microglial depletion impairs glial scar formation and aggravates inflammation partly by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation in astrocytes after spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT: Astrocytes and microglia play an orchestrated role following spinal cord injury; however, the molecular mechanisms through which microglia regulate astrocytes after spinal cord injury are not yet fully understood. Herein, microglia were pharmacologically depleted and the effects on the astrocytic response were examined. We further explored the potential mechanisms involving the signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. For in vivo experiments, we constructed a contusion spinal cord injury model in C57BL/6 mice. To deplete microglia, all mice were treated with colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX3397, starting 2 weeks prior to surgery until they were sacrificed. Cell proliferation was examined by 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) and three pivotal infl

SUBMITTER: Zhou ZL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9838173 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature