Fig. 2
Potential scheme of microglial replacement therapy for CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy. a Microglia lose the homeostatic phenotype and their numbers are decreased significantly in the brain tissues of patients with CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy. Some microglia may undergo proliferation with a high proportion in selected brain regions. b The ablation of microglia using either pharmacological inhibition or genetic targeting makes the microglial niche available. Subsequently, the empty microglial niche can be repopulated (replaced) by donor monocytes-derived microglia-like cells (c) or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (d)