VCAM1 and APOE Involved in Microglial Clearance of Amyloid- β

One of the characteristics of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease is the inflammatory activation and dysfunction of microglia. These are cells of the innate immune system distinct to the brain, analogous to macrophages elsewhere in the body. They undertake a similar portfolio of tasks, including chasing down pathogens, destroying errant cells, cleaning up waste and debris such as toxic aggregated proteins found outside cells, and aiding in tissue maintenance and repair. When microglia are in an inflammatory state, they are less inclined to aid in tissue maintenance and clearance of harmful metabolic waste. Further, changes in the signaling environment and other aspects of aging can interfere in the capacity of these cells to clear debris and waste even when they inclined to do so. In today's research materials, researchers describe some of the mechanisms that regulate clearance of misfolded, aggregated amyloid-β. Aggregation of amyloid-β is a feature of the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, and is thought to cause the onset of later inflammation and tau aggregation. Alzheimer's may thus be a consequence of an age-related failure of the balance between formation and clearance of amyloid-β aggregates. Increased production of amyloid-β may play a role, in its capacity as an antimicrobial peptide in response to infections, and so may reduced drainage of cerebrospinal fluid from the brain, but much of the focus is on reduced clearance by microgli...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs