Physiology Commons^™

Genetics Ignite Focus On Microglial Inflammation In Alzheimer's Disease, Manasi Malik, Ishita Parikh, Jared B. Vasquez, Conor Smith, Leon Tai, Guojun Bu, Mary Jo Ladu, David W. Fardo, G. William Rebeck, Steven Estus

Physiology Faculty Publications

In the past five years, a series of large-scale genetic studies have revealed novel risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Analyses of these risk factors have focused attention upon the role of immune processes in AD, specifically microglial function. In this review, we discuss interpretation of genetic studies. We then focus upon six genes implicated by AD genetics that impact microglial function: TREM2, CD33, CR1, ABCA7, SHIP1, and APOE. We review the literature regarding the biological functions of these six proteins and their putative role in AD pathogenesis. We then present a model for how …

Determining The Role Of Il-4 Induced Neuroinflammation In Microglial Activity And Amyloid-Ss Using Bv2 Microglial Cells And App/Ps1 Transgenic Mice, Clare H. Latta, Tiffany L. Sudduth, Erica M. Weekman, Holly M. Brothers, Erin L. Abner, Gabriel J. Popa, Michael D. Mendenhall, Floracita Gonzalez-Oregon, Kaitlyn Braun, Donna M. Wilcock

Physiology Faculty Publications

Background

Microglia are considered the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). In response to harmful stimuli, an inflammatory reaction ensues in which microglia are activated in a sequenced spectrum of pro- and antiinflammatory phenotypes that are akin to the well-characterized polarization states of peripheral macrophages. A “classically” activated M1 phenotype is known to eradicate toxicity. The transition to an “alternatively” activated M2 phenotype encompasses neuroprotection and repair. In recent years, inflammation has been considered an accompanying pathology in response to the accumulation of extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to drive an M2a-biased …