AEGIS identifies epitope- and clone-specific autoimmunity in ROHHAD by linking immune repertoires to self-epitopes, revealing convergence on ZSCAN1 epitopes in the CNS.

bioRxiv · May 11, 2026 · PreprintImmunology

Microglia are not required for maintenance of blood-brain barrier properties in health, but PLX5622 alters brain endothelial cholesterol metabolism

Caterina P. Profaci, Sean S. Harvey, Kaja Bajc, Tony Z Zhang, Danielle A Jeffrey, Alexander Z Zhang, Kelsey Marie Nemec, Hayk Davtyan, Carleigh A. O’Brien, Gabriel L. McKinsey, Aaron J. Longworth, Timothy P McMullen, Joia Kai Capocchi, Jessica G Gonzalez, Devon A. Lawson, , Richard Daneman

The paper investigates the role of microglia in maintaining blood-brain barrier properties in health and finds that microglia are not required, but PLX5622 treatment affects endothelial cholesterol metabolism.

Neuron · Aug 13, 2024Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Type I interferon responsive microglia shape cortical development and behavior

Caroline C. Escoubas, Leah C. Dorman, Phi T. Nguyen, Christian Lagares-Linares, Haruna Nakajo, Sarah Anderson, Jerika J. Barron, Sarah D. Wade, Beatriz Cuevas, Ilia D. Vainchtein, Nicholas J. Silva, Ricardo Guajardo, Yinghong Xiao, Peter V. Lidsky, Ellen Y. Wang, , Anna Victoria Molofsky

This study identifies a Type I interferon-responsive microglial subset that engulfs neurons during brain development and shows its role in shaping cortical structure and behavior.

Cell · Mar 14, 2024Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

Dynamic fibroblast-immune interactions shape wound healing after brain injury

Nathan A. Ewing-Crystal, Nicholas M. Mroz, Amara Larpthaveesarp, Carlos O. Lizama, Remy Pennington, Pailin Chiaranunt, Jason I. Dennis, Anthony A. Chang, Eric Dean Merrill, Sofia E. Caryotakis, Nikhita Kirthivasan, Leon Teo, Tatsuya Tsukui, Aditya Katewa, Gabriel L. McKinsey, , Ari B. Molofsky

This study identifies dynamic fibroblast-immune interactions that regulate CNS wound healing and neuroinflammation after brain injury.

bioRxiv · Mar 13, 2024Immunology

Finding the right tool: a comprehensive evaluation of microglial inducible cre mouse models

Alicia Bedolla, Gabriel L. McKinsey, Kierra Ware, Nicolas G. Santander, Thomas D. Arnold, Yu Luo

This study evaluates four microglial CreER mouse models to compare their recombination specificity, leakiness, efficiency, extra-neural recombination, and off-target effects in neonatal brain development and injury models.

Cell Reports · Jan 1, 2024Peer-reviewedNeuroscience