Brain-engrafted monocyte-derived macrophages exhibit distinct properties

Yolk sac progenitors differentiate into brain microglia that persist throughout life but the function of brain-engrafted monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) is not well understood.

The researchers show that repeated microglia depletion allows peripheral monocytes to engraft the brain.

Brain-engrafted macrophages acquire transcriptional and epigenetic identities distinct from microglia with transient CD206 upregulation and adopt a border-associated macrophage-like phenotype.

Monocytes from both blood and skull origins replenish the brain, revealing unexpected routes of brain macrophage renewal.

https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(26)00057-7

https://sciencemission.com/Brain-engrafted-monocyte-derived-macrophages