Microglia with distinct origins and non-canonical phenotypes coexist within the border-like niche of the brain’s circumventricular organs

Circumventricular organs (CVOs) are small brain regions lacking a blood-brain barrier, giving neurons direct access to blood-borne signals, yet how these microenvironments shape the origin and phenotype of local macrophages remains unclear. Using multi-omics, we characterized the immune landscape of two CVOs, the area postrema (AP) and median eminence (ME), revealing brain-border-like environments with a unique macrophage compartment. CVO microglia showed a distinct, heterogeneous phenotype, including a CLEC7A high myelin-associated subset in the ME, shaped by ageing and metabolism. CVO microglia were ontogenically diverse: fetal monocytes entered the CVOs perinatally and generated long-lived monocyte-derived microglia that fully adopted a yolk-sac-derived microglia identity. After depletion, CVO microglia were repopulated by local Sall1 high cells but also by monocytes in the AP. Similarly, perivascular CVO border-associated macrophages displayed a distinct phenotype and origin. Our findings establish CVOs as specialized immune niches that shape local macrophages, reflecting the immune and metabolic demands of these environments.