CSF1R regulates schizophrenia-related stress response and vascular association of microglia/macrophages

BMC Med. 2023 Aug 4;21(1):286. doi: 10.1186/s12916-023-02959-8.

Abstract

Background: Microglia are known to regulate stress and anxiety in both humans and animal models. Psychosocial stress is the most common risk factor for the development of schizophrenia. However, how microglia/brain macrophages contribute to schizophrenia is not well established. We hypothesized that effector molecules expressed in microglia/macrophages were involved in schizophrenia via regulating stress susceptibility.

Methods: We recruited a cohort of first episode schizophrenia (FES) patients (n = 51) and age- and sex-paired healthy controls (HCs) (n = 46) with evaluated stress perception. We performed blood RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and brain magnetic resonance imaging, and measured plasma level of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R). Furthermore, we studied a mouse model of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) combined with a CSF1R inhibitor (CSF1Ri) (n = 9 ~ 10/group) on anxiety behaviours and microglial biology.

Results: FES patients showed higher scores of perceived stress scale (PSS, p < 0.05), lower blood CSF1R mRNA (FDR = 0.003) and protein (p < 0.05) levels, and smaller volumes of the superior frontal gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus (both FDR < 0.05) than HCs. In blood RNA-seq, CSF1R-associated differentially expressed blood genes were related to brain development. Importantly, CSF1R facilitated a negative association of the superior frontal gyrus with PSS (p < 0.01) in HCs but not FES patients. In mouse CUS+CSF1Ri model, similarly as CUS, CSF1Ri enhanced anxiety (both p < 0.001). Genes for brain angiogenesis and intensity of CD31+-blood vessels were dampened after CUS-CSF1Ri treatment. Furthermore, CSF1Ri preferentially diminished juxta-vascular microglia/macrophages and induced microglia/macrophages morphological changes (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Microglial/macrophagic CSF1R regulated schizophrenia-associated stress and brain angiogenesis.

Keywords: Angiogenesis; Anxiety; CSF1R; First episode schizophrenia; Microglia/Brain macrophages; Stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Microglia*
  • Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / genetics
  • Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia*

Substances

  • Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Csf1r protein, mouse
  • CSF1R protein, human