Border-Associated Macrophages: From Embryogenesis to Immune Regulation

Border-associated macrophages (BAMs) play a pivotal role in maintaining brain homeostasis and responding to pathological conditions. Understanding their origins, characteristics, and roles in both healthy and diseased brains is crucial for advancing our knowledge of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. This review addresses the ontogeny, replenishment, microenvironmental regulation, and transcriptomic heterogeneity of BAMs, highlighting recent advancements in lineage tracing and fate-mapping studies. Furthermore, we examine the roles of BAMs in maintaining brain homeostasis, immune surveillance, and responses to injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Further research is crucial to clarify the dynamic interplay between BAMs and the brain's microenvironment in health and disease. This effort will not only resolve existing controversies but also reveal new therapeutic targets for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders, pushing the boundaries of neuroscience.