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Microglia modulate stable wakefulness via the thalamic reticular nucleus in mice

Author

Listed:
  • Hanxiao Liu

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Xinxing Wang

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Lu Chen

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Liang Chen

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Stella E. Tsirka

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Shaoyu Ge

    (Stony Brook University)

  • Qiaojie Xiong

    (Stony Brook University)

Abstract

Microglia are important for brain homeostasis and immunity, but their role in regulating vigilance remains unclear. We employed genetic, physiological, and metabolomic methods to examine microglial involvement in the regulation of wakefulness and sleep. Microglial depletion decreased stable nighttime wakefulness in mice by increasing transitions between wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the sleep-wake behavior closely correlated with diurnal variation of the brain ceramide, which disappeared in microglia-depleted mice. Ceramide preferentially influenced microglia in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), and local depletion of TRN microglia produced similar impaired wakefulness. Chemogenetic manipulations of anterior TRN neurons showed that they regulated transitions between wakefulness and NREM sleep. Their firing capacity was suppressed by both microglial depletion and added ceramide. In microglia-depleted mice, activating anterior TRN neurons or inhibiting ceramide production both restored stable wakefulness. These findings demonstrate that microglia can modulate stable wakefulness through anterior TRN neurons via ceramide signaling.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanxiao Liu & Xinxing Wang & Lu Chen & Liang Chen & Stella E. Tsirka & Shaoyu Ge & Qiaojie Xiong, 2021. "Microglia modulate stable wakefulness via the thalamic reticular nucleus in mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24915-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24915-x
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    Cited by:

    1. Allen P. F. Chen & Lu Chen & Kaiyo W. Shi & Eileen Cheng & Shaoyu Ge & Qiaojie Xiong, 2023. "Nigrostriatal dopamine modulates the striatal-amygdala pathway in auditory fear conditioning," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

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