Prion infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are characterised by a reactive gliosis and the subsequent degeneration of neuronal tissue. The activation of glial cells, which precedes neuronal death, is likely to be initially caused by the deposition of misfolded, proteinase K-resistant, isoforms (termed PrP(res)) of the prion protein (PrP) in the brain. Cytokines and chemokines released by PrP(res)-activated glia cells may contribute directly or indirectly to the disease development by enhancement and generalisation of the gliosis and via cytotoxicity for neurons. However, the actual role of prion-induced glia activation and subsequent cytokine/chemokine secretion in disease development is still far from clear. In the present work, we review our present knowledge concerning the functional biology of cytokines and chemokines in prion infections of the CNS.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2004.07.017 | DOI Listing |
Alzheimers Dement
December 2024
Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, Antwerp, Belgium.
Background: Microglia are central players in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology, but analyzing microglia states in human brain samples is challenging due to genetic diversity, postmortem delay and admixture of pathologies.
Method: To circumvent these issues, here we collected 138,577 single cell expression profiles of human stem cell derived-microglia from a xenotransplantation model of AD.
Result: Xenografted human microglia adopt a disease-associated (DAM) profile similar to that seen in mouse microglia, but display a more pronounced HLA state, likely related to antigen presentation in response to amyloid plaques.
Background: Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders which are characterized by the accumulation of abnormal tau protein in the brain. However, the mechanistic understanding of pathogenic tau formation and spread within the brain remains elusive. Astrocytes are major immune reactive cells in the brain and have been implicated in exacerbating tau pathology by releasing extracellular vesicles (AEVs) containing pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines upon activation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) stands as the predominant form of dementia worldwide. The pathogenesis of AD encompasses elevated brain levels of amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs), recognized as central neurotoxins linked to AD. The accumulation of AβOs is neurotoxic, resulting in detrimental effects such as synapse loss, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impairment of proteostasis mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive irreversible dementia characterized by beta-amyloid protein plaque deposition and hyperphosphorylation of tau forming neurofibrillary tangles, and neurodegeneration. An emerging theory posits that infections could be one of the triggering factors in AD development and progression. Multiple lines of evidence have linked Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp), a gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium with AD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Background: Much attention has been paid to the role of the perenchymal brain immune response in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Yet, the peripheral immune system in AD has not been thoroughly studied with modern sequencing methods.
Method: Here, we used a combination of single-cell sequencing strategies, including assay for transposase-accessible chromatin and RNA sequencing, to investigate the epigenetic and transcriptional alterations to the AD peripheral immune system.
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