Transcriptomic analysis of purified human cortical microglia reveals age-associated changes

Thais F Galatro, Inge R Holtman, Antonio M Lerario, Ilia D Vainchtein, Nieske Brouwer, Paula R Sola, Mariana M Veras, Tulio F Pereira, Renata E P Leite, Thomas Möller, Paul D Wes, Mari C Sogayar, Jon D Laman, Wilfred den Dunnen, Carlos A Pasqualucci, Sueli M Oba-Shinjo, Erik W G M Boddeke, Suely K N Marie, Bart J L Eggen

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Abstract

Microglia are essential for CNS homeostasis and innate neuroimmune function, and play important roles in neurodegeneration and brain aging. Here we present gene expression profiles of purified microglia isolated at autopsy from the parietal cortex of 39 human subjects with intact cognition. Overall, genes expressed by human microglia were similar to those in mouse, including established microglial genes CX3CR1, P2RY12 and ITGAM (CD11B). However, a number of immune genes, not identified as part of the mouse microglial signature, were abundantly expressed in human microglia, including TLR, F-c gamma and SIGLEC receptors, as well as TAL1 and IFI16, regulators of proliferation and cell cycle. Age-associated changes in human microglia were enriched for genes involved in cell adhesion, axonal guidance, cell surface receptor expression and actin (dis)assembly. Limited overlap was observed in microglial genes regulated during aging between mice and humans, indicating that human and mouse microglia age differently.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1162-1171
Number of pages10
JournalNature neuroscience
Volume20
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug-2017

Keywords

  • GENE-EXPRESSION SIGNATURE
  • ADULT-MOUSE
  • HUMAN BRAIN
  • CELLS
  • REGULATOR
  • RECEPTOR
  • DISEASE
  • CNS
  • PROLIFERATION
  • ASTROCYTES

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