Multi-omics identifies a VIM-associated microglial program linked to lactylation, ferroptosis, and neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury.

VIM-associated microglial program with lactylation, ferroptosis, and neuroinflammation peaks at 3 days post-spinal cord injury, highlighting a key pathological state.

• Why it matters: Understanding coordinated molecular signatures in microglia after SCI is crucial for developing targeted therapies to mitigate secondary injury and improve recovery.
• What they did: The study integrated bulk and single-cell transcriptomic datasets, identifying VIM as a hub gene linked to lactylation, ferroptosis, and inflammation, validated through mouse models and human data.
• The result: Findings reveal that DAM-like microglia with VIM expression exhibit combined metabolic and inflammatory signatures, providing a cellular framework for future interventions in secondary SCI.