Nr4a1-dependent non-classical monocytes are important for macrophage-mediated wound healing in the large intestine

IntroductionMacrophages play an important role in intestinal wound healing. However, the trajectories from circulating monocytes to gut macrophages are incompletely understood. MethodsTaking advantage of mice depleted for non-classical monocytes due to deficiency for the transcription factor Nr4a1, we addressed the relevance of non-classical monocytes for large intestinal wound healing using flow cytometry, in vivo wound healing assays and immunofluorescence. ResultsWe show that wound healing in Nr4a1-deficient mice is substantially delayed and associated with reduced peri-lesional presence of macrophages with a wound healing phenotype. DiscussionOur data suggest that non-classical monocytes are biased towards wound healing macrophages. These insights might help to understand, how targeting monocyte recruitment to the intestine can be used to modulate intestinal macrophage functions.

Automated summary

This study investigates the role of non-classical monocytes in large intestinal wound healing. By depleting non-classical monocytes in mice deficient for the transcription factor Nr4a1, the researchers found that wound healing was significantly delayed and there was a reduced presence of macrophages with a wound healing phenotype. The findings suggest that non-classical monocytes are biased towards wound healing macrophages, providing insights into the modulation of intestinal macrophage functions through monocyte recruitment.