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Distinct non-inflammatory signature of microglia in post-mortem brain tissue of patients with major depressive disorder

Molecular Psychiatry volume 26, pages 3336–3349 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Findings from epidemiological studies, biomarker measurements and animal experiments suggest a role for aberrant immune processes in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are likely to play a key role in these processes. Previous post-mortem studies reported conflicting findings regarding microglial activation and an in-depth profiling of those cells in MDD is lacking. The aim of this study was therefore to characterize the phenotype and function of microglia in MDD. We isolated microglia from post-mortem brain tissue of patients with MDD (n = 13–19) and control donors (n = 12–25). Using flow cytometry and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), we measured protein and mRNA levels of a panel of microglial markers across four different brain regions (medial frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, and subventricular zone). In MDD cases, we found a significant upregulation of CX3CR1 and TMEM119 mRNA expression and a downregulation of CD163 mRNA expression and CD14 protein expression across the four brain regions. Expression levels of microglial activation markers, such as HLA-DRA, IL6, and IL1β, as well as the inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide and dexamethasone were unchanged. Our findings suggest that microglia enhance homeostatic functions in MDD but are not immune activated.

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Fig. 1: Outline of methods.
Fig. 2: Microglia protein expression profile in major depressive disorder.
Fig. 3: Microglia gene expression profile in major depressive disorder.
Fig. 4: Microglial responses after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and dexamethasone.

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Data availability

“Data is available upon request”.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the psychiatric donor program of the Netherlands Brain Bank (NBB-Psy), which is supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). GJLJS was supported through the Catharina van Tussenbroek Fund, the Jo Kolk Study fund, and the Prins Bernard Culture Fund. JP was supported by grants from the DFG (SFB/TRR167, 265), BMBF (AERIAL), UK DRI Momentum Award and MS Society. The authors thank the team of the Netherlands Brain Bank for their services and M. Litjes, R.D. van Dijk and Y. He for their help with the microglial isolations and immune response experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Gijsje J. L. J. Snijders, René S. Kahn & Lot D. de Witte

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Gijsje J. L. J. Snijders, Marjolein A. M. Sneeboer, Marco P. Boks, Paul R. Ormel, Amber Berdenis van Berlekom, René S. Kahn & Lot D. de Witte

  3. Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Marjolein A. M. Sneeboer, Alba Fernández-Andreu, Paul R. Ormel, Amber Berdenis van Berlekom & Elly M. Hol

  4. Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Evan Udine & Towfique Raj

  5. Department of Psychiatry, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, Koekoekslaan 1, 3430, EM, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands

    Hans C. van Mierlo

  6. Department of Neuropsychiatry and Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Chotima Bӧttcher & Josef Priller

  7. DZNE and BIH, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Josef Priller

  8. University of Edinburgh and UK DRI, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK

    Josef Priller

  9. Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the royal academy of arts and sciences, 1105, BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Elly M. Hol

  10. Mental Illness Research Education Clinical, Centers of Excellence, VA, Mental Health, Veterans, Bronx, NY, USA

    René S. Kahn & Lot D. de Witte

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  1. Gijsje J. L. J. Snijders
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Psychiatric donor program of the Netherlands Brain Bank (NBB-Psy)

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Correspondence to Gijsje J. L. J. Snijders.

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These authors share first authorship: Gijsje J.L.J. Snijders and Marjolein A.M. Sneeboer

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Snijders, G.J.L.J., Sneeboer, M.A.M., Fernández-Andreu, A. et al. Distinct non-inflammatory signature of microglia in post-mortem brain tissue of patients with major depressive disorder. Mol Psychiatry 26, 3336–3349 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-020-00896-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-020-00896-z

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