Depletion of NK Cells Improves Cognitive Function in the Alzheimer Disease Mouse Model.

In this study, we report that depletion of NK cells, a type of innate lymphocytes, alleviates neuroinflammation, stimulates neurogenesis, and improves cognitive function in a triple-transgenic Alzheimer disease (AD) mouse model. NK cells in the brains of triple-transgenic AD mouse model (3xTg-AD) mice exhibited an enhanced proinflammatory profile. Depletion of NK cells by anti-NK1.1 Abs drastically improved cognitive function of 3xTg-AD mice. NK cell depletion did not affect amyloid β concentrations but enhanced neurogenesis and reduced neuroinflammation. Notably, in 3xTg-AD mice depleted of NK cells, microglia demonstrated a homeostatic-like morphology, decreased proliferative response and reduced expression of neurodestructive proinflammatory cytokines. Together, our results suggest a proinflammatory role for NK cells in 3xTg-AD mice and indicate that targeting NK cells might unlock novel strategies to combat AD.
PMID: 32503894 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Journal of Immunology - June 4, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Zhang Y, Fung ITH, Sankar P, Chen X, Robison LS, Ye L, D'Souza SS, Salinero AE, Kuentzel ML, Chittur SV, Zhang W, Zuloaga KL, Yang Q Tags: J Immunol Source Type: research