Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease: A Comparative Species Review.
Melissa K EdlerIsha Mhatre-WintersJason R RichardsonPublished in: Cells (2021)
Microglia are the primary immune cells of the central nervous system that help nourish and support neurons, clear debris, and respond to foreign stimuli. Greatly impacted by their environment, microglia go through rapid changes in cell shape, gene expression, and functional behavior during states of infection, trauma, and neurodegeneration. Aging also has a profound effect on microglia, leading to chronic inflammation and an increase in the brain's susceptibility to neurodegenerative processes that occur in Alzheimer's disease. Despite the scientific community's growing knowledge in the field of neuroinflammation, the overall success rate of drug treatment for age-related and neurodegenerative diseases remains incredibly low. Potential reasons for the lack of translation from animal models to the clinic include the use of a single species model, an assumption of similarity in humans, and ignoring contradictory data or information from other species. To aid in the selection of validated and predictive animal models and to bridge the translational gap, this review evaluates similarities and differences among species in microglial activation and density, morphology and phenotype, cytokine expression, phagocytosis, and production of oxidative species in aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Keyphrases
- inflammatory response
- gene expression
- neuropathic pain
- healthcare
- cognitive decline
- lipopolysaccharide induced
- genetic diversity
- primary care
- traumatic brain injury
- mental health
- stem cells
- dna methylation
- autism spectrum disorder
- emergency department
- spinal cord injury
- big data
- cognitive impairment
- electronic health record
- risk assessment
- social media
- subarachnoid hemorrhage
- quantum dots
- binding protein
- adverse drug