Cited by 275Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 42 of the 42 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 12 of the 24 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

CX3CR1 in Microglia Regulates Brain Amyloid Deposition through Selective Protofibrillar Amyloid-β Phagocytosis

Open access

Abstract

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits are frequently surrounded by activated microglia but the precise role of these cells in disease progression remains unclear. The chemokine receptor CX3CR1 is selectively expressed in microglia and is thought to modulate their activity. To study the specific effects of microglia activation on amyloid pathology in vivo, we crossbred mice lacking CX3CR1 with the Alzheimer's mouse model CRND8. Surprisingly, we found that CX3CR1-deficient mice had lower brain levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 and reduced amyloid deposits. Quantification of Aβ within microglia and time-lapse two-photon microscopy in live mice revealed that these cells were highly effective at the uptake of protofibrillar amyloid but were incapable of phagocytosis of fibrillar congophilic Aβ. CX3CR1 deletion was associated with increased phagocytic ability, which led to greater amyloid content within microglial phagolysosomes. Furthermore, CX3CR1-deficient mice had an increased number of microglia around individual plaques because of higher proliferative rates, which likely contributed to an overall greater phagocytic capacity. CX3CR1 deletion did not affect the degree of neuronal or synaptic damage around plaques despite increased microglia density. Our results demonstrate that microglia can regulate brain Aβ levels and plaque deposition via selective protofibrillar Aβ phagocytosis. Modulation of microglia activity and proliferation by CX3CR1 signaling may represent a therapeutic strategy for AD.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.4403-10.2010

Cites

42 of 42 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

31 Own interpretation · 31 Own result · 12 Own method · 5 Partly supported · 5 No full text of the sources · 2 Supported · 2 Supported so far · 2 Not checked yet · 2 No basis given · 1 Couldn’t confirm · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 60 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 20
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 16
33 of 33
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The CRND8 mouse model of amyloid deposition is relevant to human Alzheimer's disease.

    “we crossbred mice lacking CX3CR1 with the Alzheimer’s mouse model CRND8”
    “CX3CR1−/− mice were crossbred with transgenic mice (CRND8) harboring the human amyloid precursor protein gene with the Indiana and Swedish mutations (Chishti et al., 2001).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Fluorescently labeled Aβ42 (HiLyte-555) behaves like endogenous Aβ42 in binding, stability, and phagocytosis.

    “we developed a method for subarachnoid infusion of fluorescently tagged Aβ peptides”
    “Aβ42 (HiLyte)-555 was being infused”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In vivo two-photon imaging through a thinned skull does not alter microglial phagocytic behavior or plaque stability.

    “GFP-labeled microglia and Methoxy-X04 (MX04) labeled plaques were imaged through a thinned skull preparation as previously described (Grutzendler et al., 2002).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The absence of intracellular Thioflavin-S labeling indicates lack of phagocytosis of fibrillar amyloid rather than rapid degradation or masking of the label.

    “Quantification of TS fluorescence within IBA1-immunolabeled cells revealed absence of any intracellular TS labeling (Figure 2C, D) regardless of the CX3CR1 genotype (Figure 2D).”
    “we found complete stability of the label at least over this 90 day interval (Figure 3B, C).”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The disparity in Aβ uptake between CX3CR1 genotypes is mostly due to differential phagocytic capacity rather than macropinocytosis.

    “However, given that CX3CR1 deletion is able to modulate phagocytosis of polystyrene microspheres, we assume that the disparity in Aβ uptake between genotypes is mostly due to differential phagocytic capacity rather than macropinocytosis.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    CX3CR1 is specifically expressed in microglia in the brain.

    “We show that deletion of the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1, which in the brain is specifically expressed in microglia, leads to a significant reduction in the total levels of brain Aβ and in the number of amyloid plaques in a mouse model of AD.”
6 of 6

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2 of 2

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Metadata

Authors
Liu, Z., Condello, C., Schain, A., Harb, R., & Grutzendler, J.
Affiliations
Northwestern University (US)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2010-12-15
Volume
30
Issue
50
Pages
17091-17101
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2086776463
Cited by
275
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 15
FWCI
8.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Ellison Medical Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG027855)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
CX3CR1, microglia, amyloid-beta, Alzheimer's disease, phagocytosis, amyloid plaques, microglial activation, microglial proliferation, phagolysosomes, chemokine receptor signaling
MeSH terms
CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1, Animals, Brain, Neurons, Peptide Fragments, Phagocytosis, Synapses, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Microglia, Mice, Knockout, Receptors, Chemokine, Cell Proliferation, Mice, Plaque, Amyloid

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