Microglial Sex Differences in the Aging Brain

TL;DR

This study explores how microglia in the aging brain differ between male and female mice, finding more changes and protective responses in females.

Contribution

The paper reveals sex-specific differences in microglial aging and disease-associated states, particularly in female mice.

Findings

Female mice show more aging-related transcriptomic changes in hippocampal microglia than males.

Old female mice have more disease-associated microglia with a stronger glycolytic shift.

Autocrine complement signaling supports phagocytic properties in female microglia.

Abstract

Microglia, the brain’s resident macrophages, are key players in both neuroprotection and neurodegeneration. Microglial heterogeneity is thought to account for at least some of the diverse functional properties of microglia, especially in the context of neurodegeneration. For instance, neuroprotective disease-associated microglia (DAM) become more abundant during healthy aging, as well as in mice and humans with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Variation in microglial states and subsets may also underlie sex differences in neurodegenerative disease risk. Interestingly, we observed more aging-associated transcriptomic changes in hippocampal microglia from female mice than male mice. We also detected more abundant DAM in the hippocampus of old female mice than old male mice, reflecting a stronger glycolytic shift in females that is promoted by autocrine complement (C3a) signaling to support their phagocytic properties. In ongoing studies, we are evaluating whether these differences are a consequence of more damage in the aging female brain or reveal a stronger neuroprotective response. We are also probing the implications of these findings in the context of healthy aging and aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases.