Cited by 3,569Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsGut microbiota and healthTryptophan and brain disorders

Host microbiota constantly control maturation and function of microglia in the CNS

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Erny, Daniel, Hrabě de Angelis, Anna Lena, Jaitin, Diego, Wieghofer, Peter, Staszewski, Ori, David, Eyal, Keren-Shaul, Hadas, Mahlakoiv, Tanel +12 more·2015·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

As the tissue macrophages of the CNS, microglia are critically involved in diseases of the CNS. However, it remains unknown what controls their maturation and activation under homeostatic conditions. We observed substantial contributions of the host microbiota to microglia homeostasis, as germ-free (GF) mice displayed global defects in microglia with altered cell proportions and an immature phenotype, leading to impaired innate immune responses. Temporal eradication of host microbiota severely changed microglia properties. Limited microbiota complexity also resulted in defective microglia. In contrast, recolonization with a complex microbiota partially restored microglia features. We determined that short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), microbiota-derived bacterial fermentation products, regulated microglia homeostasis. Accordingly, mice deficient for the SCFA receptor FFAR2 mirrored microglia defects found under GF conditions. These findings suggest that host bacteria vitally regulate microglia maturation and function, whereas microglia impairment can be rectified to some extent by complex microbiota.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nn.4030

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  • Perturbations of the gut microbiota by antibiotics systemically produce altered immune responses in experimental models, notably toward a pro-inflammatory profile.

    “perturbations of the gut microbiota by antibiotics systemically produce altered immune responses in experimental models, notably toward a pro-inflammatory profile (6).”

    From The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication (2020) · cites this paper as [6]

    The ‘Temporal depletion’ section reports that antibiotics depleted gut microbiota and altered microglia in mice. But the Discussion describes blunted early responses after microbial depletion, not a shift toward a pro-inflammatory profile; the reported effects concern CNS microglia rather than systemic immune responses. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Germ-free animals display global deficiency in microglia and reduced genes needed to express type I interferon receptors such as Jak3 and Stat1.

    “Erny et al. 147 illustrated that germ-free animals display global deficiency in microglia and the genes needed to express type I interferon receptors such as Janus kinase 3 (Jak3) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (Stat1), were reduced.147”

    From The role of gut dysbiosis in Parkinson’s disease: mechanistic insights and therapeutic options (2021) · cites this paper as [147]

    In “Germ-free animals display global defects in microglia,” the paper reports reduced Jak3 and Stat1 expression in germ-free microglia and describes broad defects in their maturation and function. It does not report a global deficiency in microglial cell numbers: it found significantly more microglia in every brain region investigated. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • The function of microglia can be restored by reconstruction of gut microbiota or their metabolites, indicating that microbiota may be involved in the activity of the innate immune system in the brain via microbial metabolites and intestinal secretions.

    “The function of microglia can be restored by the reconstruction of gut microbiota or their metabolites, indicating that microbiota may also be involved in the activity of the innate immune system in the brain via microbial metabolites and intestinal secretions.147”

    From The role of gut dysbiosis in Parkinson’s disease: mechanistic insights and therapeutic options (2021) · cites this paper as [147]

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

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  • SCFAs from intestinal microbiota are key molecules regulating the maturation, morphology and function of microglia.

    “In addition, SCFAs from intestinal microbiota are key molecules regulating the maturation, morphology and function of microglia.147”

    From The role of gut dysbiosis in Parkinson’s disease: mechanistic insights and therapeutic options (2021) · cites this paper as [147]

    The Discussion reports that gut microbiota affect microglial maturation, shape and responses to pathogens. It mentions SCFAs only as metabolites that may enter circulation and could affect immune regulation and CNS function; it does not establish them as the key molecules regulating all three microglial features. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Microorganisms influence the brain through their ability to produce and modify metabolic, immunological and neurochemical factors in the gut that ultimately impact the central nervous system.

    “Microorganisms influence the brain through their ability to produce and modify metabolic, immunological and neurochemical factors in the gut that ultimately impact on the central nervous system59.”

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  1. [50]50. Stecher,B. et al. Like will to like: abundances of closely related species can predict susceptibility to intestinal colonization by pathogenic and commensal bacteria. PLoS. Pathog. 6, e1000711 (2010).

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Authors
Erny, D., Hrabě de Angelis, A. L., Jaitin, D., Wieghofer, P., Staszewski, O., David, E., Keren-Shaul, H., Mahlakoiv, T., Jakobshagen, K., Buch, T., Schwierzeck, V., Utermöhlen, O., Chun, E., Garrett, W. S., McCoy, K. D., Diefenbach, A., Staeheli, P., Stecher, B., Amit, I., & Prinz, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Freiburg (DE)
  • Weizmann Institute of Science (IL)
  • University of Cologne (DE)
  • Technical University of Munich (DE)
  • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of Bern (CH)
  • German Center for Infection Research (DE)
Corresponding author
Prinz, Marco
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2015-06-01
Volume
18
Issue
7
Pages
965-977
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W1515023627
Cited by
3,569
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 403 · 2025: 393 · 2024: 413 · 2023: 380 · 2022: 472 · 2021: 407 · 2020: 345 · 2019: 250 · 2018: 195 · 2017: 156 · 2016: 118 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 1
FWCI
89.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Kölner Universitäts PublikationsServer (Universität zu Köln) (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • mediaTUM (Technical University of Munich) (submittedVersion)
  • OPUS (Augsburg University) (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 992, FOR1336)
  • Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA154426)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
host microbiota, microglia, microglial maturation, microglial homeostasis, germ-free mice, short-chain fatty acids, FFAR2, innate immune response, gut-brain axis, bacterial fermentation products, central nervous system
MeSH terms
Animals, Central Nervous System, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Female, Homeostasis, Immunity, Innate, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Microglia, Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled, Mice, Microbiota

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