Origin, dynamics and transcriptional profile of macrophages of the sensory ganglia of the dorsal roots and sciatic nerve

• Grant number: 18/22802-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2019
• End date: September 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Mattar Cunha
• Grantee: Conceição Elidianne Aníbal Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/08216-2 - CRID - Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Macrophages are cellular components of the immune system that reside in the most diverse tissues and are described as cells that play a fundamental role in several immune response processes such as maintaining homeostasis and modulating inflammatory processes. The concept that all tissue-resident macrophages are derived from precursors of bone marrow and circulating monocytes has been dramatically changing in recent years. Recent observations indicate that macrophages resident in some tissues come from embryonic progenitors, persist in adulthood, having power of self-maintenance and extensive local proliferation. However in many tissues the origin of these macrophages is unknown, and studies are needed to uncover its origin and dynamics. Macrophages resident in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and the sciatic nerve are at the interface of the peripheral nervous system and are closely related to the neuroimmunologic responses at these sites, however their origin remains unknown. In view of this information, we propose in the present project to characterize the origin of resident macrophages of DRGs and sciatic nerve, as well as to understand the dynamics of these macrophages in tissues. Finally, we will analyze the transcriptional profile of resident macrophages of DRGs and sciatic nerve compared to different types of resident macrophages (eg microglia). The elucidation of the origin of these macrophages would add an unprecedented concept in the area of immunology research, serving as the basis for the research development. (AU)