Programmed death 1 deficiency induces the polarization of macrophages/microglia to the M1 phenotype after spinal cord injury in mice.
The inflammatory response following spinal cord injury (SCI) involves the activation of resident microglia and the infiltration of macrophages. Macrophages and microglia can be polarized into the classically activated proinflammatory M1 phenotype or the alternatively activated anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is a critical immune inhibitory receptor involved in innate and adaptive immune responses. However, whether PD-1 is involved in the modulation of macrophage/microglial polarization is unknown. In this study, the mRNA levels of pd1 gradually increased after SCI, and PD-1 protein was found in macrophages/microglia in injured spinal cord sections. PD-1 knockout (KO) mice showed poor locomotor recovery after spinal cord crushing compared with wild-type mice. M1-type macrophages/microglia accumulated in greater numbers in the injured spinal cord of PD-1-KO mice. Under polarized stimulation, induced expression of PD-1 occurred in cultured macrophages and microglia. PD-1 suppressed M1 polarization by reducing the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and promoted M2 polarization by increasing STAT6 phosphorylation. In PD-1-KO mice, the M1 response was enhanced via the activation of STAT1 and nuclear factor-kappa B. Furthermore, PD-1 played various roles in phagocytosis in macrophages and microglia. Therefore, our results suggest that PD-1 signaling plays an important role in the regulation of macrophage/microglial polarization. Thus, deregulated PD-1 signaling may induce the polarization of macrophages/microglia toward the M1 phenotype. Overall, our results provide new insights into the modulatory mechanisms of macrophage/microglial polarization, thereby possibly facilitating the development of new therapies for SCI via the regulation of macrophage/microglial polarization through PD-1 signaling.
Institute of Neurosciences, the Fourth Military Medical University, 169 West Changle Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
Anhui
A
Yao
Fangfang
F
Liu
Kun
K
Chen
Liang
L
Tang
Ling
L
Liu
Kun
K
Zhang
Caiyong
C
Yu
Ganlan
G
Bian
Hongmin
H
Guo
Jingjing
J
Zheng
Peng
P
Cheng
Gong
G
Ju
Jian
J
Wang
D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
D016328:NF-kappa B; C491383:Pdcd1 protein, mouse; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse; C494100:Stat6 protein, mouse