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In vivo imaging of the barrier properties of the glia limitans during health and neuroinflammation

Author

Listed:
  • Pauline Hélie-Legoupil

    (University of Bern
    University of Bern)

  • Florencia Kloster

    (University of Bern)

  • Javier Pareja

    (University of Bern)

  • Mykhailo Vladymyrov

    (University of Bern)

  • Josephine A. Mapunda

    (University of Bern
    Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
    University of Minnesota)

  • Elisa Bouillet

    (University of Bern)

  • Yannik Oetiker

    (University of Bern)

  • Irene Spera

    (University of Bern
    University of Basel)

  • Sara Barcos

    (University of Bern)

  • Amandine Brenna

    (University of Bern)

  • Adolfo Odriozola

    (University of Bern)

  • Alyssa Baert

    (University of Bern
    University Medical Center Göttingen)

  • Christoph Fankhauser

    (University of Bern)

  • Beat Haenni

    (University of Bern)

  • Steven T. Proulx

    (University of Bern)

  • Benoît Zuber

    (University of Bern)

  • Urban Deutsch

    (University of Bern)

  • Britta Engelhardt

    (University of Bern)

Abstract

The glia limitans ensheathes the entire central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma towards the outer surfaces and the perivascular spaces and is formed by a subset of astrocytes strategically localized at these outer parenchymal borders. Barrier properties of the glia limitans during health and neuroinflammation are incompletely understood. By developing an aquaporin-4 (Aqp4)-mRuby3 knock-in reporter mouse that allows for in vivo imaging of the superficial and perivascular glia limitans, we here show that the glia limitans forms a barrier for soluble mediators, beads and immune cells. Combining the Aqp4-mRuby3 reporter strain with additional reporter alleles for vascular, leptomeningeal or myeloid cells ensures precise localization of immune cells to CNS border zones versus the CNS parenchyma allowing to assign functional roles in CNS immune surveillance versus neuropathology. Availability of the Aqp4-mRuby3 reporter mouse will further advance our understanding of the active role of the glia limitans in CNS immune privilege.

Suggested Citation

  • Pauline Hélie-Legoupil & Florencia Kloster & Javier Pareja & Mykhailo Vladymyrov & Josephine A. Mapunda & Elisa Bouillet & Yannik Oetiker & Irene Spera & Sara Barcos & Amandine Brenna & Adolfo Odriozo, 2025. "In vivo imaging of the barrier properties of the glia limitans during health and neuroinflammation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-24, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63945-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63945-7
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