Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40537468›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

TGFα controls checkpoints in CNS resident and infiltrating immune cells to promote resolution of inflammation.

Lena Lößlein, Mathias Linnerbauer, Finnja Zuber, Thanos Tsaktanis, Oliver Vandrey, Anne Peter, Franziska Panier, Julia Zissler, Vivienne Riekher, Tobias Bäuerle and 12 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Lena LößleinDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5705-9175
Mathias LinnerbauerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5528-5141
Finnja ZuberDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Thanos TsaktanisDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-7889-1256
Oliver VandreyDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Anne PeterDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Franziska PanierDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Julia ZisslerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Vivienne RiekherDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Tobias BäuerleInstitute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Jannis HanspachInstitute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5416-7752
Frederik B LaunInstitute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Lisa NagelInstitute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Lisa MészárosDepartment of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Friederike ZunkeDepartment of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0408-6388
Jürgen WinklerDepartment of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0630-9204
Ulrike J NaumannDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Nora SchwingenDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Emely NeumaierDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Arthur LieszInstitute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9069-2594
Francisco QuintanaAnn Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8156-0736
Veit RothhammerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. Veit.rothhammer@fau.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0296-843X

Funding

Multi-omic dissection of the transcriptional, epigenetic, and proteomic signatures of cells infected with latent HIVR01AI149699 · NIAID · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI ABATE, ADAM R., QUINTANA, FRANCISCO J. · 2020 to 2024
$3.8M
Role of AHR in Dendritic Cells in the Control of the CNS AutoimmunityR01ES025530 · NIEHS · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI Francisco J. Quintana · 2016 to 2026
$3.7M
Gene-by-environment interactions that affect exposure-mediated congenital heart diseaseR01ES032323 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · PI HAHN, MARK E, WHITEHEAD, JOHN ANDREW · 2021 to 2025
$3.1M
Regulation of CNS AutoimmunityR01AI126880 · NIAID · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI QUINTANA, FRANCISCO J. · 2017 to 2021
$2.1M
Role and Therapeutic Value of AHR in Inflammatory Macrophages during GBMR21NS087867 · NINDS · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · PI QUINTANA, FRANCISCO J., WEINER, HOWARD L · 2014 to 2015
$259k
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) 408885537Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) 408885537-TRR274Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) 505539112EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council) 851693NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI126880NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI149699NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES025530NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES032323NINDS NIH HHS R21 NS087867
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

After acute lesions in the central nervous system (CNS), the interaction of microglia, astrocytes, and infiltrating immune cells decides over their resolution or chronification. However, this CNS-intrinsic cross-talk is poorly characterized. Analyzing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients as well as CNS samples of female mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of MS, we identify microglia-derived TGFα as key factor driving recovery. Through mechanistic in vitro studies, in vivo treatment paradigms, scRNA sequencing, CRISPR-Cas9 genetic perturbation models and MRI in the EAE model, we show that together with other glial and non-glial cells, microglia secrete TGFα in a highly regulated temporospatial manner in EAE. Here, TGFα contributes to recovery by decreasing infiltrating T cells, pro-inflammatory myeloid cells, oligodendrocyte loss, demyelination, axonal damage and neuron loss even at late disease stages. In a therapeutic approach in EAE, blood-brain barrier penetrating intranasal application of TGFα attenuates pro-inflammatory signaling in astrocytes and CNS infiltrating immune cells while promoting neuronal survival and lesion resolution. Together, microglia-derived TGFα is an important mediator of glial-immune crosstalk, highlighting its therapeutic potential in resolving acute CNS inflammation.

Indexed as

Central Nervous SystemEncephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, ExperimentalInflammationMultiple SclerosisTransforming Growth Factor alphaAnimalsAstrocytesBlood-Brain BarrierDisease Models, AnimalFemaleHumansMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMicrogliaOligodendrogliaT-LymphocytesTransforming Growth Factor alpha

Identifiers

PMID40537468
PMCPMC12179293

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.