Reactivity Analysis of CNS Macrophages

Central nervous system (CNS) macrophages play a key role in the development of neurons and blood vessels. Normally, CNS macrophages are small in number and mainly maintain a relatively quiescent state. However, under pathological conditions such as infection, inflammation, injury, or tumor, these cells are activated and display higher reactivity, including secreting more cytokines, engulfing more pathogens or tumor cells, as well as participating in and regulating the immune response of the CNS. Based on our robust macrophage therapeutic platform, Creative Biolabs globally delivers a reactivity analysis of CNS macrophages to aid CNS macrophages in the application of disease research.

Fig.1 Neurodegenerative mechanisms mediated by microglia and macrophages in progressive multiple sclerosis. (Kamma, et al., 2022) Fig.1 Microglia and macrophage-mediated pathways of neurodegeneration in progressive multiple sclerosis.¹

Reactivity Analysis of CNS Macrophages at Creative Biolabs

Creative Biolabs' reactivity analysis of CNS macrophages has great confidence to act as an effective tool to interpret CNS macrophages under physiological or pathological conditions. Our reactivity analysis service typically involves multiple levels, including molecular biology, cell biology, and immunohistochemical techniques. To satisfy customer's different analysis purposes and analysis samples, we provide different analysis methods (or combinations) to meet your needs, including:

Tab.1 Analysis methods at Creative Biolabs.

Flow cytometry	Analyzing the phenotypes and functions of CNS macrophages, such as their activation markers, cytokine expression, and phagocytic activity.
RT-PCR	Detecting the expression of specific genes on CNS macrophages, such as proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes.
Immunohistochemistry	Locating and quantifying the activated macrophages in CNS through the tissue sections.
Immunofluorescence	Applying fluorescently labeled antibodies to detect specific antigens in CNS macrophages or tissue sections. Compared to immunohistochemistry, this method is more sensitive and able to detect numerous antigens by multi-color fluorescence.
Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)	Isolating the activated macrophages from CNS samples for subsequent analysis.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)	Quantifying the concentrations of cytokines or chemokines in cell culture supernatants and tissue homogenates to assess the secretory activity of CNS macrophages.
Gene knockout / transgenic animal models	Constructing animal models with defects or overexpression of specific genes through gene knockout or transgenic techniques to study the effects of specific genes on CNS macrophage reactivity.
In vitro assay	Treating CNS macrophages with various stimuli to observe their reactions in vitro.

Markers Expressed on CNS Macrophages

Markers expressed on CNS macrophages are crucial for their reactivity analysis. Here we list several identified markers to design for customers' CNS macrophage projects:

Microglia-specific markers: TMEM119, CD11b, CD45, HEXB, SALL1, GPR34, P2RY12, OLFML3, TGFBR1, MERTK, PROS1, TYRO3, Fcrls.
Microglia and macrophage markers: Iba1, CX3CR1, F4/80, CD68, CD40.

Sample Types for Reactivity Analysis of CNS Macrophages

Our reactivity analysis of CNS macrophages is compatible with a range of sample types, including:

Brain tissue
Cerebrospinal fluid
Blood
Cell culture supernatant
RNA sample

Frequently Asked Question

Q1: Are there any special requirements for samples used for reactivity analysis of CNS macrophages?

A1: When collecting brain tissue samples, it is critical to promptly process them to prevent cell death and molecular degradation. Similarly, for cerebrospinal fluid samples, meticulous aseptic techniques must be utilized to prevent contamination. Likewise, when isolating CNS macrophages, it is essential to preserve cell viability and integrity to the highest degree possible. For special projects, please contact our team for more technical support.

For more details about our reactivity analysis of CNS macrophages, please contact us in your free time.

Reference

Kamma, Emily, et al. "Central nervous system macrophages in progressive multiple sclerosis: relationship to neurodegeneration and therapeutics." Journal of Neuroinflammation 19.1 (2022): 45.