Microglia Stimulate Zebrafish Brain Repair Via a Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha-Initiated Inflammatory Cascade

The study demonstrated that microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, played a crucial role in zebrafish brain repair by regulating the inflammatory response. Using methods to ablate microglia, researchers found that their absence inhibited neurogenesis and regeneration following brain injury. This was linked to impaired signaling pathways, specifically phospho-stat3 and ß-catenin, which are crucial for cell proliferation during neurogenesis. The study also noted that without microglia, neutrophils accumulated, preventing inflammation resolution, and macrophages alone were insufficient for regeneration. These findings highlighted the importance of microglia and inflammatory signaling in zebrafish brain regeneration, offering potential insights for enhancing brain repair in mammals.