Microglia and immune activation in Alzheimer's disease.
Although the brain has been traditionally viewed as immunologically privileged, it is now clear that the brain is surveyed by T lymphocytes, that resident brain microglia express immune-related antigens and can function as antigen-presenting cells, and that glial cells can synthesize and respond to cytokines, once viewed as immune system specific regulators. Alzheimer's disease is associated with increased expression of several immune-related markers in brain, including MHC class II antigens, complement factors and their receptors, and acute-phase proteins. Preliminary epidemiological evidence suggests that patients on long-term anti-inflammatory drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis have an unexpectedly low incidence of Alzheimer's disease.
Gordon
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MN
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of South Florida College of Medicine.
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003167:Complement Activation; D006801:Humans
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins