Microglia control the formation of brain small vessel calcification via TREM2

The role of microglia in the formation of brain capillary calcification was investigated in a platelet-derived-growth factor B (PDGFB) hypomorph - Pdgfb ret/ret mouse model of human primary familial brain calcification. RNA-seq was performed on brain tissue developing vessel-associated calcifications (n=4 thalamus) and on brain tissue lacking calcifications (n=4 cortex) of Pdgfb ret/ret animals. Control animals (Pdgfb wt/ret) do not develop calcifications in any of the analyzed regions (n=4 thalamus and n=4 cortex).