Cited by 336Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNeurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments

Microglia and Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis

Streit, Wolfgang J.·2004·Journal of Neuroscience Research

Abstract

The most visible and, until very recently, the only hypothesis regarding the involvement of microglial cells in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis is centered around the notion that activated microglia are neurotoxin-producing immune effector cells actively involved in causing the neurodegeneration that is the cause for AD dementia. The concept of detrimental neuroinflammation has gained a strong foothold in the AD arena and is being expanded to other neurodegenerative diseases. This review takes a comprehensive and critical look at the overall evidence supporting the neuroinflammation hypothesis and points out some weaknesses. The current work also reviews evidence for an alternative theory, the microglial dysfunction hypothesis, which, although eliminating some of the shortcomings, does not necessarily negate the amyloid/neuroinflammation theory. The microglial dysfunction theory offers a different perspective on the identity of activated microglia and their role in AD pathogenesis taking into account the most recent insights gained from studying basic microglial biology.

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Crossref · 10.1002/jnr.20093

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81 of 81 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Reactive gliosis and neural inflammation are hallmarks of AD, and although microglia are not the primary initiator of AD, they play an important cell-autonomous role in the disease.

    “Reactive gliosis and neural inflammation are hallmarks of AD4,122–125.”

    From Microglial signatures and their role in health and disease (2018) · cites this paper as [124]

  • Aged human brains contain dystrophic microglia with cytoplasmic abnormalities such as deramified, fragmented, or tortuous processes and spheroidal or bulbous swellings.

    “one study of aged human brains observed “dystrophic” microglia with cytoplasmic abnormalities such as deramified, fragmented, or tortuous processes as well as spheroidal and bulbous swellings [70]”

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Authors
Streit, W. J.
Affiliations
University of Florida Health (US)
Corresponding author
Streit, Wolfgang J.
Venue
Journal of Neuroscience Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-04-20
Volume
77
Issue
1
Pages
1-8
ISSN
  • 0360-4012 (ISSN-L)
  • 1097-4547
OpenAlex
W2149347131
Cited by
335
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 25
FWCI
2.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
microglia, Alzheimer's disease, neuroinflammation, microglial dysfunction, neurodegeneration, amyloid hypothesis, microglial activation, neurodegenerative diseases
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Encephalitis, Gliosis, Humans, Models, Neurological, Neurotoxins, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Neurofibrillary Tangles, Cellular Senescence, Microglia

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