Microglia Mitochondria Support Neuronal Maturation via Metabolic and Transcriptional Reprogramming in Human 3D In Vitro Brain Model.
Overview
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by disrupted neuronal circuit maturation. Emerging evidence implicates microglial function and mitochondrial regulation as contributors to ASD‐associated biology, yet the mechanisms linking these processes to neuronal development remain poorly defined. Neuronal maturation requires tightly coordinated metabolic and transcriptional remodeling, in which mitochondria play a central role in regulating the developmental tempo and metabolic identity, while microglia modulate neuronal synaptic network maturation; however, whether microglia influence neuronal development through direct mitochondrial contributions remains unknown. Here, using a 3D human in vitro brain model, it is shown that microglial mitochondria can act as transferable cues that promote metabolic, mitochondria‐dynamic, and transcriptional aspects of neuronal maturation. Neurons treated with microglial mitochondria exhibited enhanced oxidative metabolism, improved mitochondrial dynamics, and activation of gene programs associated with nervous system development and neurogenesis. These effects are accompanied by increased expression of dendritic maturation markers, supporting the view that transferred mitochondria can contribute to the regulation of neuronal state. However, full structural and synaptic maturation required the combined action of microglia‐derived mitochondria and secreted signaling factors. Together, this study identified microglial mitochondrial transfer as a contributor to neuronal maturation with potential relevance to developmental trajectories disrupted in ASD.
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.
Code
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Data
Datasets cited
- geo:GSE319314, at NCBI GEO; found in “Data Availability Statement”
Other data links
- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
geo , NCBI; found in “Data Availability Statement”
Data Availability Statement
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article (and its supporting information files). This study's mRNA sequencing data set was deposited in the GEO repository database (https://
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.
Versions
The history of this record: each version stored by the harvester or made by a correction of its authors or of the maintainers of its code, and what changed in its facts. The texts of the paper (its abstract, its availability statements) are not part of it; versions that changed only those are not listed.
Version 1, 30 September 2026: the first record
Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, issue, pages, dates, 5 authors, 5 keywords, 9 MeSH terms, 4 funders, 56 references.
Cite
This paper
Sterben, S. P., Anamala, C. C., Kansakar, S. B. S., Koduri, V., & Liaudanskaya, V. (2026). Microglia Mitochondria Support Neuronal Maturation via Metabolic and Transcriptional Reprogramming in Human 3D In Vitro Brain Model. Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), 13(25), e08815. https://
BibTeX
@article{sterben2026micr
author = {Sterben, Sydney P and Anamala, Charitha C and Kansakar, Sahan B S and Koduri, Vaishnavi and Liaudanskaya, Volha},
title = {{Microglia Mitochondria Support Neuronal Maturation via Metabolic and Transcriptional Reprogramming in Human 3D In Vitro Brain Model}},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
year = {2026},
month = mar,
volume = {13},
number = {25},
pages = {e08815},
publisher = {Wiley},
issn = {2198-3844},
doi = {10.1002/
url = {https://
pmid = {41823577},
pmcid = {PMC13137835}
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
AU - Sterben, Sydney P
AU - Anamala, Charitha C
AU - Kansakar, Sahan B S
AU - Koduri, Vaishnavi
AU - Liaudanskaya, Volha
TI - Microglia Mitochondria Support Neuronal Maturation via Metabolic and Transcriptional Reprogramming in Human 3D In Vitro Brain Model
T2 - Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
J2 - Adv Sci (Weinh)
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/
VL - 13
IS - 25
SP - e08815
SN - 2198-3844
PB - Wiley
DO - 10.1002/
UR - https://
LA - en
ER -
CSL-JSON
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