Integrated analysis of single-cell and transcriptome data reveals temporal dynamics of microglial phagocytic reprogramming in neuropathic pain progression
{"Neuropathic":[0],"pain":[1,30,58,185],"(NP)":[2],"often":[3],"progresses":[4],"from":[5,159],"acute":[6,83],"to":[7],"chronic,":[8],"but":[9,239],"the":[10,46,54,65,174,215,220],"mechanisms":[11],"driving":[12],"this":[13,42],"transition":[14],"remain":[15],"unclear.":[16],"Microglia":[17],"play":[18],"a":[19,75,94,106,121,160,188,252,272],"central":[20],"role":[21],"in":[22,64,112,219,226],"spinal":[23,72],"sensitization,":[24],"yet":[25],"their":[26],"functional":[27,80,122,135],"evolution":[28,77],"during":[29,53],"chronification":[31],"is":[32],"poorly":[33],"understood.":[34],"Through":[35],"integrated":[36],"multi-omics":[37],"analysis":[38,132,154,172],"and":[39,105,115,126,145,184,209,225,268],"experimental":[40],"validation,":[41],"study":[43],"systematically":[44],"investigates":[45],"temporal":[47],"dynamics":[48],"of":[49,56,101,191,195,232],"microglial":[50,138,181,193,242,249,265],"phagocytic":[51,88,102,108,147,243,266],"reprogramming":[52,267],"progression":[55],"neuropathic":[57,278],"(NP).":[59],"The":[60],"results":[61],"demonstrate":[62],"that":[63,156,230],"spared":[66],"nerve":[67],"injury":[68],"(SNI)":[69],"mouse":[70],"model,":[71],"microglia":[73,157],"undergo":[74],"dynamic":[76],"across":[78],"three":[79],"phases:":[81],"an":[82],"proliferative":[84],"state":[85,110,163],"with":[86,120],"initial":[87],"activation":[89,100],"(post-injury":[90],"day":[91],"3,":[92],"PID3),":[93],"transitional":[95],"phase":[96,176],"marked":[97],"by":[98,257],"significant":[99,217],"pathways":[103],"(PID7),":[104],"chronic":[107,175,221,277],"\\"fatigue\\"":[109],"(PID14)":[111],"which":[113,212],"autophagy-":[114],"lysosome-related":[116],"pathway":[117],"activity":[118],"declined":[119],"decoupling":[123],"between":[124],"phagocytosis":[125,194,250],"degradative":[127],"capacity":[128],"(PID14).":[129],"Single-cell":[130],"transcriptomic":[131],"further":[133],"revealed":[134],"heterogeneity":[136],"among":[137,211],"subpopulations,":[139],"including":[140],"inflammation-regulating":[141],"subsets":[142],"(e.g.,":[143,149],"Micro3/Micro5)":[144],"specialized":[146],"clusters":[148],"Clusters":[150],"7).":[151],"Pseudotime":[152],"trajectory":[153],"indicated":[155],"differentiate":[158],"common":[161],"progenitor":[162],"into":[164,264],"two":[165],"distinct":[166],"fates:":[167],"pro-inflammatory":[168],"or":[169],"phagocytic.":[170],"Our":[171],"at":[173],"(day":[177],"14":[178],"post-SNI)":[179],"confirmed":[180,229],"activation,":[182],"neuroinflammation,":[183],"hypersensitivity,":[186],"alongside":[187],"novel":[189],"finding":[190],"augmented":[192],"apoptotic":[196],"cells.":[197],"Further":[198],"research":[199],"identified":[200],"eight":[201],"phagocytosis-related":[202],"genes":[203],"(such":[204],"as":[205,271],"Axl,":[206],"Mfsd8,":[207],"Mbtps1,":[208],"Sorl1),":[210],"Axl":[213,233,270],"showed":[214],"most":[216],"up-regulation":[218],"phase.":[222],"In":[223],"vivo":[224],"vitro":[227],"experiments":[228],"inhibition":[231],"not":[234],"only":[235],"induced":[236],"mechanical":[237],"allodynia":[238],"also":[240],"impaired":[241],"function.":[244],"Furthermore,":[245],"under":[246],"LPS":[247],"stimulation,":[248],"exhibited":[251],"biphasic":[253],"response-initial":[254],"enhancement":[255],"followed":[256],"decline.":[258],"This":[259],"work":[260],"provides":[261],"new":[262],"insights":[263],"suggests":[269],"promising":[273],"therapeutic":[274],"target":[275],"for":[276],"pain.":[279]}
Authors
- Ying Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4931-4006)
- Chenyuan Zhai
- Qi Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4454-6665)
- Yao Geng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7330-1803)
- Liu W
- Manyu Dong
- Yilun Qian
- Qinfeng Wu
- yan Liu
- Yu Wang
- Wentao Liu
- Ying Shen
Institutions
- Tongji University (CN)
- Suzhou Municipal Hospital (CN)
- Central Hospital of Putuo District (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China (CN)
- Nanjing Medical University (CN)
- University of South China (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2026-09-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-69062-9
- Primary Topic
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province
- University of South China