CXCL10 triggers early microglial activation in the cuprizone model.

A broad spectrum of diseases is characterized by myelin abnormalities and/or oligodendrocyte pathology. In most, if not all, of these diseases, early activation of microglia occurs. Our knowledge regarding the factors triggering early microglia activation is, however, incomplete.

Unique transcriptome signature of mouse microglia.

Microglial cells can be derived directly from the dissociated brain tissue by sorting procedures, from postnatal glial cultures by mechanic isolation or from pluripotent stem cells by differentiation. The detailed molecular phenotype of microglia from different sources is still unclear. Here, we performed a whole transcriptome analysis of flow cytometry-sorted microglia, primary postnatal cultured microglia, embryonic stem cell derived microglia (ESdM), and other cell types.

Siglec-h on activated microglia for recognition and engulfment of glioma cells.

Sialic-acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-h (Siglec-h) is a recently identified mouse-specific CD33-related Siglec that signals via DAP12/TYROBP. Expression of Siglec-h has been observed on plasmacytoid dendritic cells and microglia, but the ligand and the function of Siglec-h remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate gene transcription and protein expression of Siglec-h by mouse microglia after interferon-γ treatment or polarization into a M1-subtype.

Generation of microglial cells from mouse embryonic stem cells.

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are difficult to obtain in high numbers and purity using currently available methods; to date, microglia for experimental research are mainly isolated from the brain or from mixed glial cultures. In this paper, we describe a basic protocol for the in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells into microglial precursor cells. Microglia are obtained by a protocol consisting of five stages: (i) cultivation of ES cells, (ii) formation and differentiation of embryoid bodies, (iii) differentiation into neuroectodermal lineage and isolation of myeloid precursor cells, (iv) differentiation into microglial precursor cells and (v) cultivation of ES cell-derived microglial precursors (ESdMs).

Induction of distinct defense-associated protein patterns in Aphanomyces euteiches (Oomycota)-elicited and -inoculated Medicago truncatula cell-suspension cultures: a proteome and phosphoproteome approach.

A comprehensive proteomic approach was applied to investigate molecular events occurring upon inoculation of Medicago truncatula cell-suspension cultures with the oomycete root pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches. Establishment of an inoculation assay in the cell cultures allowed a direct comparison between proteins induced by elicitation with a crude culture extract of the oomycete and by inoculation with A. euteiches zoospores representing the natural infection carrier.