Neurodegenerative diseases: The immunological perspective

Increasing evidence supports the notion that the neurodegenerative process occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) does not only imply the neuronal compartment but also involves a strong interaction with the immunological cells of the Central Nervous System (CNS), primarily microglia. Starting from the observation that the neurodegenerative disorders are frequent in elderly individuals, who have an immunological background that possibly favors this process, it is evident that a dysregulation of innate immune response triggered by misfolded and aggregated proteins, or by endogenous molecules released by injured neurons, directly contributes to disease pathogenesis and progression.
Source: Journal of Neuroimmunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Review Article Source Type: research