biostudies-literatureUnknownTsissios GNEI NIH HHSNINDS NIH HHSPrevious studies indicated that macrophages play a role during lens regeneration in newts, but their function has not been tested experimentally. Here we generated a transgenic newt reporter line in which macrophages can be visualized <i>in vivo</i>. Using this new tool, we analyzed the location of macrophages during lens regeneration. We uncovered early gene expression changes using bulk RNAseq in two newt species, <i>Notophthalmus viridescens</i> and <i>Pleurodeles waltl</i>. Next, we used clodronate liposomes to deplete macrophages, which inhibited lens regeneration in both newt species. Macrophage depletion induced the formation of scar-like tissue, an increased and sustained inflammatory response, an early decrease in iris pigment epithelial cell (iPEC) proliferation and a late increabioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2023.06.04.543633https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10274724biostudies-literatureMacrophages modulate fibrosis during newt lens regeneration.PMC10274724R21 EY031865R01 EY027801R21 EY033916F99 NS129167Tangeman JAAraus AJRatvasky SCGrajales-Esquivel EWang HYun MHSimon ATsissios GPerez-Estrada JRRio-Tsonis KDChen WSallese AMartinez AVisser KJSmucker BfalseMacrophages modulate fibrosis during newt lens regeneration.Previous studies indicated that macrophages play a role during lens regeneration in newts, but their function has not been tested experimentally. Here we generated a transgenic newt reporter line in which macrophages can be visualized <i>in vivo</i>. Using this new tool, we analyzed the location of macrophages during lens regeneration. We uncovered early gene expression changes using bulk RNAseq in two newt species, <i>Notophthalmus viridescens</i> and <i>Pleurodeles waltl</i>. Next, we used clodronate liposomes to deplete macrophages, which inhibited lens regeneration in both newt species. Macrophage depletion induced the formation of scar-like tissue, an increased and sustained inflammatory response, an early decrease in iris pigment epithelial cell (iPEC) proliferation and a late increa2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jun2025-04-18T19:23:08.803Z2025-04-07T07:07:37.487ZS-EPMC102747243733318410.1101/2023.06.04.543633