Macrophage-specific deletion of BACE1 does not enhance macrophage recruitment to the injured peripheral nerve

Abstract

Following peripheral nerve injury, macrophages are recruited to the injury site from circulation to clear cellular debris. Injured β-secretase 1 (BACE1) knockout mice have enhanced macrophage recruitment and debris clearance, which may be due to BACE1 activity in macrophages or the hypomyelination observed in BACE1 knockout mice. To assess if BACE1 expression by macrophages mediates enhanced macrophage recruitment we utilized mice with macrophage specific deletion of BACE1 and saw no increase in macrophage recruitment following injury. This study suggests that expression of BACE1 by macrophages may not be essential for increased recruitment observed previously in global BACE1 KO mice.