Single-cell mass cytometry reveals complex myeloid cell composition in active lesions of progressive multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Acta neuropathologica communications Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 136
• Main Authors: Böttcher, Chotima, van der Poel, Marlijn, Fernández-Zapata, Camila, Schlickeiser, Stephan, Leman, Julia K H, Hsiao, Cheng-Chih, Mizee, Mark R, Adelia, Vincenten, Maria C J, Kunkel, Desiree, Huitinga, Inge, Hamann, Jörg, Priller, Josef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 18.08.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Active lesion; Antibodies; Cloning; EDTA; Inflammation; Laboratories; Mass cytometry; Medical research; Microglia; Multiple sclerosis; Myeloid cells; Neurodegeneration; Neuropathology; Progressive multiple sclerosis; Proteins; Germany; Netherlands; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Progressive multiple sclerosis; Active lesion; Mass cytometry; Myeloid cells; Microglia
• ISSN: 2051-5960; 2051-5960
• DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01010-8

Myeloid cells contribute to inflammation and demyelination in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), but it is still unclear to what extent these cells are involved in active lesion formation in progressive MS (PMS). Here, we have harnessed the power of single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) to compare myeloid cell phenotypes in active lesions of PMS donors with those in normal-appearing white matter from the same donors and control white matter from non-MS donors. CyTOF measurements of a total of 74 targeted proteins revealed a decreased abundance of homeostatic and TNF microglia, and an increase in highly phagocytic and activated microglia states in active lesions of PMS donors. Interestingly, in contrast to results obtained from studies of the inflammatory early disease stages of MS, infiltrating monocyte-derived macrophages were scarce in active lesions of PMS, suggesting fundamental differences of myeloid cell composition in advanced stages of PMS.