Occurrence of T cells in the brain of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases
Abstract
We investigated the occurrence of T cells in the brain parenchyma of Alzheimer's disease (AD), non-AD degenerative dementias and controls by semi-quantitative analysis of immunohistochemically stained tissue sections. In all cases, we found at least some T cells. The number of T cells was increased in the majority of AD cases compared with other cases. The phenotype of T cells in the AD brain indicates that they are activated but are not fully differentiated. Antigen-triggered clonal expansion is not likely to take place. Local inflammatory conditions might cause accumulation and activation of T cells in the AD brain.
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Recruitment of adaptive immune cells, particularly T and B lymphocytes, can exacerbate neurodegeneration through sustained cytokine production.
“In parallel, recruitment of adaptive immune cells—particularly T and B lymphocytes—can further exacerbate neurodegeneration through sustained cytokine production despite their initial roles in aggregate clearance [37–41].”
From Targeted Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Across the Blood–Brain Barrier in Early and Late Stages of Alzheimer's Disease: A Review (2026) · cites this paper as [39]
Activated T cells exist as infiltrates in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.
“Furthermore, activated T cells also exist as infiltrates in the brains of AD patients [158–160].”
From PKR, the double stranded RNA‐dependent protein kinase as a critical target in Alzheimer's disease (2009) · cites this paper as [160]
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- Authors
- Togo, T., Akiyama, H., Iseki, E., Kondo, H., Ikeda, K., Kato, M., Oda, T., Tsuchiya, K., & Kosaka, K.
- Affiliations
- Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry (JP)
- Yokohama City University (JP)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Akiyama, Haruhiko
- Venue
- Journal of Neuroimmunology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-03
- Volume
- 124
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 83-92
- ISSN
- 0165-5728 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1967399741
- Cited by
- 481
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 4.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Neuroimmunology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Keywords
- T cells, Alzheimer's disease, brain parenchyma, T cell activation, T cell phenotype, neuroinflammation, T cell accumulation, clonal expansion
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Female, Humans, Lymphocyte Activation, Male, Middle Aged, Nervous System Diseases, Phenotype, T-Lymphocytes, Lymphocyte Count
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