Biology subjects

Hingerl, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Hingerl, M..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Conserved phenotype and function of human brain border-associated macrophages in iPSC-derived models

Border-associated macrophages (BAMs) are increasingly implicated in protective brain functions including the removal of pathogenic material such as amyloid-beta (A{beta}). However, there is a lack of available and deeply characterized human BAM models. Here, we report that postnatal transplantation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived hematopoietic progenitors to the murine brain sufficiently chimerizes the brain border immune compartment to allow functional interrogations. Human xenotransplanted BAMs (xBAMs) line the leptomeninges and brain vasculature beyond the glia limitans. Via single-cell RNA sequencing, we show that a conserved transcriptional signature distinguishes BAMs from microglia across species origin, age, and genetic background. Both xBAMs and murine BAMs are defined by a hyper-endocytic phenotype and function, surpass other brain macrophages in acute A{beta} scavenging, and exhibit compartment-restricted sampling of parenchymal material. Using a modified differentiation protocol, we find that we can generate iPS-derived BAM-like cells (iBAMs) in vitro, which are also characterized by a hyper-endocytic phenotype and enhanced engulfment capacity relative to iPS-derived microglia-like cells (iMGLs). Together, these data define a conserved hyper-endocytic BAM phenotype and provide a toolbox for studying human BAMs both in vivo and in vitro.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

The circadian clock regulates scavenging of fluid-borne substrates by brain border-associated macrophages

Circadian disruptions perturb the brain and immune system and increase the risk of developing Alzheimers Disease (AD), yet whether this involves dysregulation of brain immunity remains less clear. Here, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing of the brain immune compartment around the day-night cycle and identify brain border-associated macrophages (BAMs) as highly rhythmic cells. During the rest phase, we find that BAMs exhibit coordinated upregulation of endocytic genes and enhanced uptake of extracellular fluid-borne material including amyloid-beta (A{beta}). Rhythmicity in BAM scavenging is regulated by the clock gene Bmal1, mediated by the endocytic receptor CD206, and perturbed with age. In a mouse model of AD, we show that deletion of Bmal1 in BAMs worsens perivascular and leptomeningeal A{beta} plaque burden. Our results identify endocytosis as a specialized and rhythmic BAM function and identify perturbed timing of brain border immune functions as a potential mechanism by which circadian disruptions precipitate amyloidosis.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Heterochronic myeloid cell replacement reveals the local brain environment as key driver of microglia aging

Aging, the key risk factor for cognitive decline, impacts the brain in a region-specific manner, with microglia among the most affected cell types. However, it remains unclear whether this is intrinsically mediated or driven by age-related changes in neighboring cells. Here, we describe a scalable, genetically modifiable system for in vivo heterochronic myeloid cell replacement. We find reconstituted myeloid cells adopt region-specific transcriptional, morphological and tiling profiles characteristic of resident microglia. Young donor cells in aged brains rapidly acquired aging phenotypes, particularly in the cerebellum, while old cells in young brains adopted youthful profiles. We identified STAT1-mediated signaling as one axis controlling microglia aging, as STAT1-loss prevented aging trajectories in reconstituted cells. Spatial transcriptomics combined with cell ablation models identified rare natural killer cells as necessary drivers of interferon signaling in aged microglia. These findings establish the local environment, rather than cell-autonomous programming, as a primary driver of microglia aging phenotypes.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Adhesion-driven tissue rigidification triggers epithelial cell polarity

The active regulation of tissue material properties via phase transitions is central in morphogenesis. Transitions abruptly occur at critical points in diverse control parameters, including cell density, shape or adhesion. Whether these parameters are interdependent, performing redundant or distinct functions, is unknown. Here we show that co-regulation of multiple control parameters impacts not only tissue deformability, but also cell polarization. We theoretically define a new phase diagram capturing the material states of zebrafish pluripotent tissues and show that they cross simultaneously critical points in cell density, connectivity and adhesion strength. Combining optogenetics, biophysical measurements and quantitative morphometrics, we independently modulate each parameter, identifying adhesion as the main determinant of tissue rheology. Unexpectedly, uncoupling adhesion-driven from density-driven rigidification in amorphous tissues triggers epithelial organization via tricellular junction formation, followed by luminogenesis and apicobasal polarization. Altogether, this work reveals the non-linear dynamics of emergent tissue mechanics as instructive mechanisms of tissue organization.

biophysics↗