| First Author | Zhou K | Year | 2022 |
| Journal | J Neuroinflammation | Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 20 |
| PubMed ID | 35062962 | Mgi Jnum | J:320959 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6861293 | Doi | 10.1186/s12974-022-02381-6 |
| Citation | Zhou K, et al. (2022) An overlooked subset of Cx3cr1(wt/wt) microglia in the Cx3cr1(CreER-Eyfp/wt) mouse has a repopulation advantage over Cx3cr1(CreER-Eyfp/wt) microglia following microglial depletion. J Neuroinflammation 19(1):20 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND: Fluorescent reporter labeling and promoter-driven Cre-recombinant technologies have facilitated cellular investigations of physiological and pathological processes, including the widespread use of the Cx3cr1(CreER-Eyfp/wt) mouse strain for studies of microglia. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry, Flow Cytometry, RNA sequencing and whole-genome sequencing were used to identify the subpopulation of microglia in Cx3cr1(CreER-Eyfp/wt) mouse brains. Genetically mediated microglia depletion using Cx3cr1(CreER-Eyfp/wt)Rosa26(DTA/wt) mice and CSF1 receptor inhibitor PLX3397 were used to deplete microglia. Primary microglia proliferation and migration assay were used for in vitro studies. RESULTS: We unexpectedly identified a subpopulation of microglia devoid of genetic modification, exhibiting higher Cx3cr1 and CX3CR1 expression than Cx3cr1(CreER-Eyfp/wt)Cre(+)Eyfp(+) microglia in Cx3cr1(CreER-Eyfp/wt) mouse brains, thus termed Cx3cr1(high)Cre(-)Eyfp(-) microglia. This subpopulation constituted less than 1% of all microglia under homeostatic conditions, but after Cre-driven DTA-mediated microglial depletion, Cx3cr1(high)Cre(-)Eyfp(-) microglia escaped depletion and proliferated extensively, eventually occupying one-third of the total microglial pool. We further demonstrated that the Cx3cr1(high)Cre(-)Eyfp(-) microglia had lost their genetic heterozygosity and become homozygous for wild-type Cx3cr1. Therefore, Cx3cr1(high)Cre(-)Eyfp(-) microglia are Cx3cr1(wt/wt)Cre(-)Eyfp(-). Finally, we demonstrated that CX3CL1-CX3CR1 signaling regulates microglial repopulation both in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Our results raise a cautionary note regarding the use of Cx3cr1(CreER-Eyfp/wt) mouse strains, particularly when interpreting the results of fate mapping, and microglial depletion and repopulation studies. |
