title: How neuroinflammation contributes to neurodegeneration.
abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal lobar dementia are among the most pressing problems of developed societies with aging populations. Neurons carry out essential functions such as signal transmission and network integration in the central nervous system and are the main targets of neurodegenerative disease. In this Review, I address how the neuron's environment also contributes to neurodegeneration. Maintaining an optimal milieu for neuronal function rests with supportive cells termed glia and the blood-brain barrier. Accumulating evidence suggests that neurodegeneration occurs in part because the environment is affected during disease in a cascade of processes collectively termed neuroinflammation. These observations indicate that therapies targeting glial cells might provide benefit for those afflicted by neurodegenerative disorders.
authors.affiliation: Biogen, 225 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ransohoff
mesh_terms: D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D017628:Microglia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D066329:Protein Aggregates; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; C095235:CX3CR1 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D066329:Protein Aggregates; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C498715:TREM2 protein, human