CD45+ cells from the prenatal brain in homeostasis and germinal matrix hemorrhage

Germinal matrix encompasses the ganglionic eminences (GEs) that are the major source for GABAergic interneurons in prenatal human brain. In preterm infants, germinal matrix is also vulnerable to develop hemorrhage, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we used single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing to show that distinct clusters of CD45+ cells employ diverse signaling mechanisms to promote the formation of vascular network in GEs. Similar transcriptomic profiling of CD45+ cells in cases with germinal matrix hemorrhage show that proinflammatory neutrophils and monocytes disrupt nascent vasculature in the germinal matrix. These results provide key insights into mechanism and therapeutic intervention to this devastating disease.