Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Species Review
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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Cells |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/5/1138 |
| _version_ | 1827693048182603776 |
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| author | Melissa K. Edler Isha Mhatre-Winters Jason R. Richardson |
| author_facet | Melissa K. Edler Isha Mhatre-Winters Jason R. Richardson |
| author_sort | Melissa K. Edler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:36:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29cc0933f2b247a5931f6d9746eec006 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:36:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-29cc0933f2b247a5931f6d9746eec0062023-11-21T18:49:53ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092021-05-01105113810.3390/cells10051138Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Species ReviewMelissa K. Edler0Isha Mhatre-Winters1Jason R. Richardson2Department of Anthropology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USASchool of Biomedical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USARobert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USAMicroglia 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/5/1138microglianeuroinflammationagingAlzheimer’s diseaseprimaterodent |
| spellingShingle | Melissa K. Edler Isha Mhatre-Winters Jason R. Richardson Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Species Review Cells microglia neuroinflammation aging Alzheimer’s disease primate rodent |
| title | Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Species Review |
| title_full | Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Species Review |
| title_fullStr | Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Species Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Species Review |
| title_short | Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Species Review |
| title_sort | microglia in aging and alzheimer s disease a comparative species review |
| topic | microglia neuroinflammation aging Alzheimer’s disease primate rodent |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/5/1138 |
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