Cited by 61Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsNeurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments

Microglia: Friend and foe in tauopathy

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Odfalk, Kristian F., Bieniek, Kevin F., Hopp, Sarah C.·2022·Progress in Neurobiology

Abstract

Aggregation of misfolded microtubule associated protein tau into abnormal intracellular inclusions defines a class of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. The consistent spatiotemporal progression of tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) led to the hypothesis that tau aggregates spread in the brain via bioactive tau "seeds" underlying advancing disease course. Recent studies implicate microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, in both negative and positive regulation of tau pathology. Polymorphisms in genes that alter microglial function are associated with the development of AD and other tauopathies. Experimental manipulation of microglia function can alter tau pathology and microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory cascades can exacerbate tau pathology. Microglia also exert protective functions by mitigating tau spread: microglia internalize tau seeds and have the capacity to degrade them. However, when microglia fail to degrade these tau seeds there are deleterious consequences, including secretion of exosomes containing tau that can spread to neurons. This review explores the intersection of microglia and tau from the perspective of neuropathology, neuroimaging, genetics, transcriptomics, and molecular biology. As tau-targeted therapies such as anti-tau antibodies advance through clinical trials, it is critical to understand the interaction between tau and microglia.

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Authors
Odfalk, K. F., Bieniek, K. F., & Hopp, S. C.
Affiliations
The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
Corresponding author
Hopp, Sarah C.
Venue
Progress in Neurobiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-09
Volume
216
Pages
102306
ISSN
0301-0082 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4282841274
Cited by
60
References
265
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 3
FWCI
1.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Progress in Neurobiology (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (K01AG066747, R21AG072423, R01AG062348, R01AG070214, P30AG066546)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (T32NS082145, R01NS017950)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
microglia, tauopathy, tau aggregation, Alzheimer's disease, tau seeding, neuroinflammation, tau spread, exosomes, anti-tau antibodies, tau-targeted therapy
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Humans, Neurons, tau Proteins, Microglia, Tauopathies

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