Macrophage-mediated refinement of the dural lymphatic regulates social behavior.

Meningeal macrophages refine dorsal meningeal lymphatic development, influencing social behavior and potentially contributing to autism spectrum disorder.

• Why it matters: Understanding how meningeal lymphatic vasculature develops is crucial because it plays a key role in brain function and disease, yet its regulatory mechanisms are not well known.
• What they did: The study used the BTBR mouse model of ASD to investigate lymphatic development, revealing that macrophages mediate lymphatic refinement through cell death and phagocytosis during postnatal brain maturation.
• The result: Disruption of this macrophage-driven refinement correlates with ASD-like social behaviors, suggesting that meningeal lymphatic regulation may be a target for understanding and potentially treating neurodevelopmental disorders.