A restarted life: Resetting microglia innate immune memory

Abstract

Microglia can achieve depletion and repopulation through various mechanisms, improving outcomes in multiple CNS diseases. Innate immune memory in microglia can undergo continuous reprogramming through epigenetics, facilitating iterative memory upgrades. Here, through a comprehensive literature review, we propose the concepts of the microglial innate immune memory prototype (MIIMP) and microglial temporally phased innate immune memory reset (MTPIIMR). The temporally phased innate immune memory are reflected not only in the formation of immune response prototypes in microglia but also in the partial reset of innate immune memory during the depletion and repopulation process. In the duel against time, single cycles of depletion and repopulation can yield benefits through partial innate immune memory reset, while multiple cycles accelerate microglial aging. Identifying the optimal solution to replace microglia for filling ecological niches and executing their functions perfectly is a formidable yet profoundly significant challenge.