Distinct characteristics of microglia from neurogenic and non-neurogenic regions of the human brain in patients with Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

The study of microglia isolated from adult human brain tissue provides unique insight into the physiology of these brain immune cells and their role in adult human brain disorders. Reports of microglia in post-mortem adult human brain tissue show regional differences in microglial populations, however, these differences have not been fully explored in living microglia. In this study biopsy tissue was obtained from epileptic patients undergoing surgery and consisted of both cortical areas and neurogenic ventricular and hippocampal (Hp) areas.

Ethnic disparities in Phyllodes Tumour in Aotearoa New Zealand: a retrospective review.

Background: Phyllodes tumour (PT) is a rare breast neoplasm and little is known about its epidemiological risk factors. The literature suggests a higher incidence of PT in Asian patients and other minority ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to identify whether there was a difference in incidence, grade and age at presentation for patients with PT among minority ethnic groups when compared with European patients in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ).

Single-cell image analysis reveals a protective role for microglia in glioblastoma.

Background: Microglia and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute up to half of the total tumor mass of glioblastomas. Despite these myeloid populations being ontogenetically distinct, they have been largely conflated. Recent single-cell transcriptomic studies have identified genes that distinguish microglia from TAMs.

Interferon-γ blocks signalling through PDGFRβ in human brain pericytes.

Background: Neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption are common features of many brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and motor neuron disease. Inflammation is thought to be a driver of BBB breakdown, but the underlying mechanisms for this are unclear. Brain pericytes are critical cells for maintaining the BBB and are immunologically active.

Cultured pericytes from human brain show phenotypic and functional differences associated with differential CD90 expression.

The human brain is a highly vascular organ in which the blood-brain barrier (BBB) tightly regulates molecules entering the brain. Pericytes are an integral cell type of the BBB, regulating vascular integrity, neuroinflammation, angiogenesis and wound repair. Despite their importance, identifying pericytes amongst other perivascular cell types and deciphering their specific role in the neurovasculature remains a challenge.

TGF-beta1 regulates human brain pericyte inflammatory processes involved in neurovasculature function.

Background: Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) is strongly induced following brain injury and polarises microglia to an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Augmentation of TGFβ1 responses may therefore be beneficial in preventing inflammation in neurological disorders including stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. However, several other cell types display immunogenic potential and identifying the effect of TGFβ1 on these cells is required to more fully understand its effects on brain inflammation.

DCIS of the breast: The value of preoperative MRI.

Introduction: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is commonly treated surgically. The intent of this study was to evaluate whether preoperative MRI could add to mammography in predicting the extent of the disease.

Methods: A series of patients with DCIS attending our surgical clinic for preoperative assessment were offered MRI as part of a prospective study.

Isolation of highly enriched primary human microglia for functional studies.

Microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system play vital roles in brain homeostasis through clearance of pathogenic material. Microglia are also implicated in neurological disorders through uncontrolled activation and inflammatory responses. To date, the vast majority of microglial studies have been performed using rodent models.

An anti-inflammatory role for C/EBPδ in human brain pericytes.

Neuroinflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders and pericytes are implicated in brain inflammatory processes. Cellular inflammatory responses are orchestrated by transcription factors but information on transcriptional control in pericytes is lacking. Because the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ) is induced in a number of inflammatory brain disorders, we sought to investigate its role in regulating pericyte immune responses.

A role for human brain pericytes in neuroinflammation.

Background: Brain inflammation plays a key role in neurological disease. Although much research has been conducted investigating inflammatory events in animal models, potential differences in human brain versus rodent models makes it imperative that we also study these phenomena in human cells and tissue.

Methods: Primary human brain cell cultures were generated from biopsy tissue of patients undergoing surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy.

Adult human glia, pericytes and meningeal fibroblasts respond similarly to IFNy but not to TGFβ1 or M-CSF.

The chemokine Interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) are widely used indicators of glial activation and neuroinflammation and are up-regulated in many brain disorders. These inflammatory mediators have been widely studied in rodent models of brain disorders, but less work has been undertaken using human brain cells. In this study we investigate the regulation of HLA and IP-10, as well as other cytokines and chemokines, in microglia, astrocytes, pericytes, and meningeal fibroblasts derived from biopsy and autopsy adult human brain, using immunocytochemistry and a Cytometric Bead Array.

M-CSF increases proliferation and phagocytosis while modulating receptor and transcription factor expression in adult human microglia.

Background: Microglia are the primary immune cells of the brain whose phenotype largely depends on their surrounding micro-environment. Microglia respond to a multitude of soluble molecules produced by a variety of brain cells. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is a cytokine found in the brain whose receptor is expressed by microglia.

The transcription factor PU.1 is critical for viability and function of human brain microglia.

Microglia are the predominant resident immune cells of the brain and can assume a range of phenotypes. They are critical for normal brain development and function but can also contribute to many disease processes. Although they are widely studied, the transcriptional control of microglial phenotype and activation requires further research.

Cardiac sarcoidosis: an elusive diagnosis.

The diagnosis of sarcoidosis of the heart can be elusive, and is seldom established in life. We report the case of a 43-year-old man who underwent heart transplantation for presumed idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Endomyocardial biopsy before transplantation showed only a mild infiltrate of lymphocytes.