Macrophage–Neuroglia Interactions in Promoting Neuronal Regeneration in Zebraﬁsh

Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2023 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076483 · Published: March 30, 2023

Regenerative Medicine Immunology Neurology

Simple Explanation

The review focuses on how macrophages, a type of immune cell, interact with neuroglia to help regenerate nerve cells in zebraﬁsh after spinal cord injury. Zebraﬁsh are able to regenerate nerve tissue unlike humans. Macrophages release a substance called TNF-α, which is key in promoting the regrowth of nerve fibers. This substance can also influence other types of brain cells, like radial glial cells, to help with regeneration. The review suggests that understanding these interactions could lead to new treatments for spinal cord injuries and other nervous system disorders by targeting the inflammatory processes involved in regeneration.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review Article

Key Findings

1
Macrophages and their subpopulations play a crucial role in tissue repair and regeneration, focusing on their secretion of TNF-α, which promotes axonal regeneration in zebraﬁsh.
2
The TNF/Tnfrsf1a-mediated AP-1 signaling pathway increases HDAC1 expression and promotes regeneration in zebraﬁsh after injury.
3
Macrophage-secreted TNF-α can regulate ERG motor neuron progenitors and oligodendrocyte differentiation, ultimately promoting regenerative neurogenesis.

Research Summary

This review underscores the critical role of macrophages and their subpopulations in tissue repair and regeneration, focusing on their secretion of TNF-α, which promotes axonal regeneration in zebraﬁsh. The review also offers insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying TNF-α’s ability to facilitate axonal regeneration and explores the potential of pMN progenitor cells and RGs following SCI in zebraﬁsh. The review concludes with a discussion of various unresolved questions in the ﬁeld, and ideas are suggested for future research.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Targets

Targeting TNF-α signaling to enhance spinal cord repair following injury.

Regenerative Medicine Strategies

Developing novel strategies for treating the inflammatory processes associated with regenerative medicine, commonly observed in injury and disease.

Clinical Applications

Unraveling the complexity of macrophage-mediated regeneration may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to enhance recovery after spinal cord injury and other CNS disorders.

Study Limitations

1
The speciﬁcity of macrophages when targeting ERG progenitor cells remains unclear.
2
Effects of macrophages on other cell types in spinal cord regeneration are not fully understood.
3
Specific molecular mechanisms governing the differentiation of RGs into different cell types require further investigation.

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