Microglial deletion and inhibition alleviate behavior of post-traumatic stress disorder in mice

Abstract Background Alteration of immune status in the central nervous system (CNS) has been implicated development post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, nature overall changes brain immunocyte landscape PTSD condition remains unclear. Methods We constructed a mouse model by electric foot-shocks followed contextual reminders and verified PTSD-related symptoms behavior test (including freezing test, open-field elevated plus maze test). examined panorama brains naïve or mice using single-cell mass cytometry. Microglia number morphological hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, amygdala were analyzed histopathological methods. The gene expression those microglia detected quantitative real-time PCR. Genetic/pharmacological depletion minocycline treatment before exposure was performed to study role progress. Results found are major cells that respond PTSD. ratio immunocytes significantly increased on fifth day foot-shock exposure. Furthermore, analysis profiling revealed temporal patterns microglial activation hippocampus brains. Importantly, we genetic/pharmacological alleviated PTSD-associated anxiety fear. Conclusion Our results demonstrated critical for potential therapeutic strategy clinical form inhibition.