Lipid metabolism in primary microglia

Spinal cord injury (SCI) profoundly affects functional capacity and the immune system plays a crucial role in recovery. In this study, we investigated the effects of SCI on macrophages and microglia in mice. We observed that macrophages infiltrated the spinal cord shortly after injury but decreased over time. Microglial phagocytosis of myelin debris is associated with increased lipid accumulation. Deletion of macrophages or microglia had contrasting effects on recovery: macrophage deletion improved outcomes, whereas microglial deletion worsened them. In addition, PPARG promotes lipid metabolism and recovery, and atorvastatin (a PPARG agonist) effectively reverses altered metabolic processes. These findings highlight the complex roles of macrophages and microglia in SCI, and suggest that targeting PPARG and its agonists could be a promising therapeutic approach.