Brain macrophages acquire distinct transcriptomes in multiple sclerosis lesions and normal appearing white matter

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by inflammation and focal areas of demyelination, ultimately resulting in axonal degradation and neuronal loss. Several lines of evidence point towards a role for microglia and other brain macrophages in disease initiation and progression, but exactly how lesion formation is triggered is currently unknown. Here, we characterized early changes in MS brain tissue through transcriptomic analysis of normal appearing white matter (NAWM). We found that NAWM was characterized by enriched expression of genes associated with inflammation and cellular stress derived from brain macrophages. Single cell RNA sequencing confirmed a stress response in brain macrophages in NAWM and identified specific microglia and macrophage subsets at different stages of demyelinating lesions. We identified both phagocytic/activated microglia and CAM clusters that were associated with various MS lesion types. These overall changes in microglia and macrophages associated with lesion development in MS brain tissue may provide therapeutic targets to limit lesion progression and demyelination.

Automated summary

In this study, the early changes in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissue were characterized through transcriptomic analysis. The findings revealed an increased stress response in brain macrophages in the normal appearing white matter (NAWM) of MS patients, and specific microglia and macrophage subsets were identified at different stages of demyelinating lesions.