A study published in the journal Cell by Professor Li Zhongqiu from Zhengzhou University's School of Convergence Medicine, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, and the State Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation & Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer has redefined the role of the meninges in human brain development. The paper, titled "Decoding the Spatiotemporal Development of Human Meninges", is co-authored by Li as both first and corresponding author.
Traditionally viewed as a passive protective layer around the brain and spinal cord, the meninges were thought to provide only mechanical support and maintain homeostasis. The research team has now overturned this long-held view by systematically mapping the developmental timeline of the three meningeal layers — dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. They found that pia mater develops first, and fibroblasts in each layer actively express genes related to barrier function, neurotransmitter transport, synaptic regulation, and lipid metabolism. This redefines the meninges as a dynamic, compartmentalized micro-environment.
The team further characterized the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of meningeal immune cells and identified a distinct population of resident macrophages. Most notably, a subset of Trem2+ macrophages was found to directly regulate Cajal-Retzius neurons — key "architect" neurons of the uppermost cortical layers. This discovery establishes a novel axis, elevating the meninges from a passive sheath to a critical regulatory hub.
These findings open new avenues for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disability, as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, and provide a foundation for future therapies targeting the meningeal immune micro-environment.
Professor Li Zhongqiu from ZZU publishes a groundbreaking research achievement in Cell. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]