Dynamic fibroblast-immune interactions shape recovery after brain injury [Visium]

Fibroblasts and immune cells coordinate tissue regeneration and necessary scarring after injury. In the brain, fibroblasts are border-enriched cells whose dynamic molecular states and immune interactions after injury remain unclear. We used spatial transcriptomics (10X Visium) to spatiotemporally profile CNS wound healing responses, including stromal and immune responses, after photothrombotic (PT) injury. Overall design: 10um cortical tissue slices including PT lesions were analyzed at rest, 2dpi, 7dpi, and 21dpi. 2 tissue slices were mounted per capture area, with 1 mouse (1 slice/mouse) analyzed at rest and 2dpi, and 2 mice (1 slice/mouse) analyzed at 7dpi and 21dpi (2 additional 21dpi mice, Cthrc1(creER); R26(DTA), discarded after initial clustering due to undetectable deletion).