title: Immune attack: the role of inflammation in Alzheimer disease.
abstract: The past two decades of research into the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) have been driven largely by the amyloid hypothesis; the neuroinflammation that is associated with AD has been assumed to be merely a response to pathophysiological events. However, new data from preclinical and clinical studies have established that immune system-mediated actions in fact contribute to and drive AD pathogenesis. These insights have suggested both novel and well-defined potential therapeutic targets for AD, including microglia and several cytokines. In addition, as inflammation in AD primarily concerns the innate immune system - unlike in 'typical' neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and encephalitides - the concept of neuroinflammation in AD may need refinement.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Neuropathology, Charitéplatz 1, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. [2] Cluster of Excellence, NeuroCure, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Heppner
authors.affiliation: Biogen, 225 Binney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ransohoff
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zrich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Becher
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*