Pharmacological depletion of microglia and perivascular macrophages prevents vascular Cognitive Impairment in Ang II-induced Hypertension

Authors: Daniëlle Kerkhofs, Britt T. van Hagen, Irina V. Milanova, Kimberly J Schell, Helma van Essen, Erwin Wijnands, Pieter Goossens, W. Matthijs Blankesteijn, Thomas Unger, Jos Prickaerts, Erik A.L. Biessen, Robert J. van Oostenbrugge, Sébastien Foulquier - Theranostics 2020 cited by 72

Our results show that depletion of microglia and PVMs, by CSF1R inhibition prevents short-term memory impairment in Ang II induced hypertensive mice. We suggest this beneficial effect is mediated by the major decrease of pro-inflammatory microglia within BBB leakages. This novel finding supports the critical role of brain immune cells in the pathogenesis of hypertension-related cognitive impairment. An adequate modulation of microglia /PVM density and phenotype may constitute a relevant approach to prevent and/or limit the progression of vascular cognitive impairment.