title: Inflammatory aspects of Alzheimer disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
abstract: Alzheimer and a number of other neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the presence of reactive microglia and reactive astrocytes in association with the lesions. The classic view that microglia exist primarily in either a resting or activated state needs to be broadened in view of recent results. Resting microglia are in constant activity sampling their surround. Activated microglia may be pro-inflammatory, releasing inflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, or anti-inflammatory, promoting the healing process. There is evidence that microglial phagocytosis is more powerful in the anti-inflammatory state. Activated astrocytes also have pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. In the pro-inflammatory state they release inflammatory cytokines. In the anti-inflammatory state they release various growth factors. In AD and other neurodegenerative diseases, both microglia and astrocytes are in a pro-inflammatory state. From a therapeutic point of view it is desirable to find methods of tipping the balance towards an anti-inflammatory state for both types of glia.
authors.affiliation: Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Patrick L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McGeer
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016874:Neurofibrillary Tangles / Q000378:metabolism; D051843:Synucleins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D051843:Synucleins