Diurnal and nocturnal transcriptional profiling of hippocampal microglia from adult male mice

Microglia cells are the innate immune cells of the brain. They are increasingly studied for their role in virtually all pathological events in the central nervous system. However, no study has thus far looked at whether microglia cells undergo wake and sleep state-dependent changes in transcriptional and translational profile. Rodents are nocturnal animals, and most studies are investigating microglia cells during the rodent's sleep phase, hence during the day, for translational purposes. The aim of this study was to compare the microglial transcriptional, translational and functional profile between the wake and sleep phase. Our results provide evidence that the innate immune cells of the brain do undergo a transcriptional and translational adaptation to the wake or sleep state. Overall design: diurnal and nocturnal transcriptional profiling of hippocampal microglia from adult male mice.