title: Sall1 is a transcriptional regulator defining microglia identity and function.
abstract: Microglia are the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS). Gene expression profiling has identified Sall1, which encodes a transcriptional regulator, as a microglial signature gene. We found that Sall1 was expressed by microglia but not by other members of the mononuclear phagocyte system or by other CNS-resident cells. Using Sall1 for microglia-specific gene targeting, we found that the cytokine receptor CSF1R was involved in the maintenance of adult microglia and that the receptor for the cytokine TGF-β suppressed activation of microglia. We then used the microglia-specific expression of Sall1 to inducibly inactivate the murine Sall1 locus in vivo, which resulted in the conversion of microglia from resting tissue macrophages into inflammatory phagocytes, leading to altered neurogenesis and disturbed tissue homeostasis. Collectively, our results show that transcriptional regulation by Sall1 maintains microglial identity and physiological properties in the CNS and allows microglia-specific manipulation in vivo.
authors: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Buttgereit
authors: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Iva
authors: I
authors: Lelios
authors: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Xueyang
authors: X
authors: Yu
authors: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Vrohlings
authors: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Natalie R
authors: NR
authors: Krakoski
authors: INSERM UMR_S 1166, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.
authors: Emmanuel L
authors: EL
authors: Gautier
authors: Department of Kidney Development, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors: Ryuichi
authors: R
authors: Nishinakamura
authors: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Burkhard
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1541-7867
authors: B
authors: Becher
authors: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Melanie
authors: M
authors: Greter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059467:Transcriptome; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C000604004:Csf1r protein, mouse; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D016187:Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C491254:Sall1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta