PI3K signaling promotes formation of lipid-laden foamy macrophages at the spinal cord injury site
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ABSTRACT: After spinal cord injury (SCI), infiltrating macrophages undergo excessive phagocytosis of myelin and cellular debris, forming lipid-laden foamy macrophages. To understand their role in the cellular pathology of SCI, investigation of foamy macrophage phenotype in vitro revealed a unique inflammatory profile, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrialdysfunction. Bioinformatic analysis identified PI3K as a regulator of inflammation in foamy macrophages, and pharmacological inhibition of this pathway decreased lipid content and inflammatory cytokine and ROS production in these cells. Macrophage-specific inhibition of PI3K using liposomes significantly decreased foamy macrophages at the injury site after a mid-thoracic contusive SCI in mice. RNA sequencing and in vitro analysis of foamy macrophages revealed increased autophagy after PI3K inhibition as a potential mechanism for reduced cellular lipid accumulation. Together, our data suggest that formation of pro-inflammatory foamy macrophages after SCI is due to activation of PI3K signaling that leads to decreased autophagy.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE237511 | GEO | 2023/12/05
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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