Brain perivascular macrophages: current understanding and future prospects

Abstract

Brain perivascular macrophages are specialized populations of macrophages that reside in the space around cerebral vessels, such as penetrating arteries and venules. With the help of cutting-edge technologies such as cell fate mapping and single-cell multi-omics, their multifaceted, pivotal roles in phagocytosis, antigen presentation, vascular integrity maintenance, and metabolic regulation have more recently been further revealed under physiological conditions. Accumulating evidence also implies that perivascular macrophages are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease, cerebrovascular dysfunction, autoimmune disease, traumatic brain injury, and epilepsy. They can act in either protective or detrimental ways depending on the disease course and stage. However, the underlying mechanisms of perivascular macrophages remain largely unknown. Therefore, we highlight potential future directions in research on perivascular macrophages, including the utilization of genetic mice and novel therapeutic strategies that target these unique immune cells for neuroprotective purposes. In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive update on the current knowledge of brain perivascular macrophages, shedding light on their pivotal roles in central nervous system health and disease.

Identification of hub genes significantly linked to tuberous sclerosis related-epilepsy and lipid metabolism via bioinformatics analysis

“…Cerebral peripheral vascular macrophages are a special population of macrophages, and cerebral peripheral vascular macrophages are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, cerebrovascular dysfunction, autoimmune diseases, traumatic brain injury and epilepsy. They can act in a protective or deleterious manner on disease processes and stages ( 43 ). The number of Tregs in the brain was negatively correlated with seizure frequency in patients with epilepsy ( 44 ).…”

Role of myeloid cells in ischemic retinopathies: recent advances and unanswered questions

“…PVMs are located in the perivascular space formed between the retinal microvessel wall and the glia limitans (glial limiting membrane that is made up of astrocytic foot processes), and they help to maintain the integrity of the blood–brain barrier by phagocytosing cellular debris and foreign particles as well as antigen presentation [ 29 ]. Unlike the brain [ 30 ], only a limited number of studies have sought to define the role of PVMs in the retina. One report showed that the scavenger function of PVMs may promote the BRB integrity in the retina similar to the known scavenger benefit of PVMs in the CNS [ 31 ].…”

Integration of iPSC-Derived Microglia into Brain Organoids for Neurological Research

“…BAMs are distinct from the parenchymal microglia and are crucial for maintaining brain health and immune surveillance [ 76 ]. Considering that conventional brain organoids lack a functional vascular network, the creation and amalgamation of vascularized brain organoids to simulate immune functions offer a promising methodology for the exploration of BAMs [ 77 ]. Research that separately cultivates vessel and brain organoids before combining them to form vascularized brain organoids has shown that macrophages can form around the vasculature.…”