This study uses in vivo imaging in mice to demonstrate that microglia, the primary immune cells in the central nervous system, establish direct contact with myelinated axons at Nodes of Ranvier. In response to axonal injury, microglia rapidly wrap the injured axon, preventing acute axonal degeneration. This protective wrapping depends on microglial P2Y12 receptors and involves voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) and two-pore-domain potassium (K2P) channels. Inhibition of NaV delays axonal degeneration. The findings reveal a neuroprotective role for microglia in acute spinal cord axon injury.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Oct 13, 2024
Authors
Wanjie Wu, Yingzhu He, Yujun Chen, Yiming Fu, Sicong He, Kai Liu, Jianan Y. Qu
Tags
microglia
axonal injury
neuroprotection
Nodes of Ranvier
central nervous system
P2Y12 receptors
injured axon
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