Isolation of CNS-infiltrating and Resident Microglial Cells

Abstract

Variety of immunological and biochemical studies associated with infection or inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) utilize CNS-resident and/or infiltrating cells which were isolated from the CNS of naïve and affected mice in order to investigate the underlying mechanisms and the potential roles of the cell populations. Mechanical and enzyme-based single cell preparations of CNS cells are subjected to a density gradient to obtain functional single cells. In combination with cell-specific biomarkers, the function and/or status of resident microglia and infiltrating lymphocytes, including B and T cells as well as macrophages, can be characterized.