Towards Depletion of Microglia as a Treatment for Alzheimer ' s Disease

In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the role of microglia in neurodegenerative conditions. Microglia are innate immune cells of the central nervous system, analogous to macrophages elsewhere in the body, but which also participate in the organization of synaptic connections in addition to the other roles one might expect from immune cells. Microglia in the aging brain become more inflammatory and overactive with age. Some become senescent. This contributes to the chronic inflammation of brain tissue observed in older individuals, and which contributes to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative conditions. Interestingly, it is possible to efficiently clear microglia using CSF1R inhibitor drugs, after which the population is recreated over the course of a few weeks, lacking much of the dysfunction. This approach has yet to be earnestly tested as a way to help slow the progression of neurodegeneration, but the research community appears to be slowly moving in that direction. It is evident that microglia are crucial players in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and a deeper understanding of their diverse functions and interactions with other cellular components in the brain will be vital for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. However, despite considerable progress in recent years, there remain significant gaps in our knowledge of microglial biology, particularly concerning their heterogeneity, precise mechanisms of ...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs