Microglia reactivity entails microtubule remodeling from acentrosomal to centrosomal arrays
Maria Rosito, Caterina Sanchini, Giorgio Gosti, Manuela Moreno, Simone De Panfilis, Maria Giubettini, Doriana Debellis, Federico Catalano, Giovanna Peruzzi, Roberto Marotta, Alessia Indrieri, Elvira De Leonibus, Maria Egle De Stefano, Davide Ragozzino, Giancarlo Ruocco, Silvia Di Angelantonio, Francesca Bartolini
Abstract
Microglia reactivity entails a large-scale remodeling of cellular geometry, but the behavior of the microtubule cytoskeleton during these changes remains unexplored. Here we show that activated microglia provide an example of microtubule reorganization from a non-centrosomal array of parallel and stable microtubules to a radial array of more dynamic microtubules. While in the homeostatic state, microglia nucleate microtubules at Golgi outposts, and activating signaling induces recruitment of nucleating material nearby the centrosome, a process inhibited by microtubule stabilization. Our results demonstrate that a hallmark of microglia reactivity is a striking remodeling of the microtubule cytoskeleton and suggest that while pericentrosomal microtubule nucleation may serve as a distinct marker of microglia activation, inhibition of microtubule dynamics may provide a different strategy to reduce microglia reactivity in inflammatory disease.