Fetal microglial phenotype in vitro carries memory of prior in vivo exposure to inflammation

Abstract

We identified a unique HMOX1 down and FBP (up) phenotype of microglia exposed to the double-hit suggesting interplay of inflammatory and metabolic pathways. Our findings suggest that epigenetic mechanisms mediate this immunological and metabolic memory of the prior inflammatory insult relevant to neuronal development and provide new therapeutic targets for early postnatal intervention to prevent brain injury.