Poster #096
Effect of Microglial Depletion on Neuronal Lysosomes
Mentors: Rida Rehman, Dr. rer. Nat., Marius Wernig, M.D. Ph.D.
The lysosomal pathway is an intrinsic cellular mechanism that degrades and recycles unwanted materials and plays a critical role in neuronal health. Microglia, the immune cells of the brain, assist in waste clearance and neuronal homeostasis. While microglia are known to interact with neurons, we asked whether they contribute directly to neuronal lysosomal clearance. We hypothesized that chemical depletion of microglia in mice using the molecule PLX3397 would impair lysosomal clearance, therefore increasing lysosome accumulation and neuronal stress. Homozygous neuronal-specific lysosomal-tagged mice were genotyped using PCR and gel electrophoresis before treatment with PLX3397 for 5 days. Microglial depletion was then confirmed via free-floating immunostaining. While preliminary results revealed no structural changes in neuronal lysosomes, subsequent analyses revealed increased apoptosis and cell-specific stress responses. Future work will target molecular pathways linking microglial absence to neuronal vulnerability, particularly emphasizing apoptosis, inflammation, and non-neuronal lysosomal changes.