scholarly journals Microglia in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Species Review

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1138
Author(s):  
Melissa K. Edler ◽  
Isha Mhatre-Winters ◽  
Jason R. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Functional Behavior ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Oxidative Species ◽  
Selection Of

Microglia are the primary immune cells of the central nervous system that help nourish and support neurons, clear debris, and respond to foreign stimuli. Greatly impacted by their environment, microglia go through rapid changes in cell shape, gene expression, and functional behavior during states of infection, trauma, and neurodegeneration. Aging also has a profound effect on microglia, leading to chronic inflammation and an increase in the brain’s susceptibility to neurodegenerative processes that occur in Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the scientific community’s growing knowledge in the field of neuroinflammation, the overall success rate of drug treatment for age-related and neurodegenerative diseases remains incredibly low. Potential reasons for the lack of translation from animal models to the clinic include the use of a single species model, an assumption of similarity in humans, and ignoring contradictory data or information from other species. To aid in the selection of validated and predictive animal models and to bridge the translational gap, this review evaluates similarities and differences among species in microglial activation and density, morphology and phenotype, cytokine expression, phagocytosis, and production of oxidative species in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.

Neuropeptides in Alzheimer’s Disease: An Update

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 544-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Petrella ◽  
Maria Grazia Di Certo ◽  
Christian Barbato ◽  
Francesca Gabanella ◽  
Massimo Ralli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Brain Distribution ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Small Proteins ◽  
Current Review ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Available Information

Neuropeptides are small proteins broadly expressed throughout the central nervous system, which act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neuroregulators. Growing evidence has demonstrated the involvement of many neuropeptides in both neurophysiological functions and neuropathological conditions, among which is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The role exerted by neuropeptides in AD is endorsed by the evidence that they are mainly neuroprotective and widely distributed in brain areas responsible for learning and memory processes. Confirming this point, it has been demonstrated that numerous neuropeptide-containing neurons are pathologically altered in brain areas of both AD patients and AD animal models. Furthermore, the levels of various neuropeptides have been found altered in both Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) and blood of AD patients, getting insights into their potential role in the pathophysiology of AD and offering the possibility to identify novel additional biomarkers for this pathology. We summarized the available information about brain distribution, neuroprotective and cognitive functions of some neuropeptides involved in AD. The main focus of the current review was directed towards the description of clinical data reporting alterations in neuropeptides content in both AD patients and AD pre-clinical animal models. In particular, we explored the involvement in the AD of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH), Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART), Cholecystokinin (CCK), bradykinin and chromogranin/secretogranin family, discussing their potential role as a biomarker or therapeutic target, leaving the dissertation of other neuropeptides to previous reviews.

scholarly journals Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease and Some Therapeutic Approaches Targeting Aβby Using Several Synthetic and Herbal Compounds

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Kumar Singh ◽  
Saurabh Srivastav ◽  
Amarish Kumar Yadav ◽  
Saripella Srikrishna ◽  
George Perry
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disease ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Age Related

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex age-related neurodegenerative disease. In this review, we carefully detail amyloid-βmetabolism and its role in AD. We also consider the various genetic animal models used to evaluate therapeutics. Finally, we consider the role of synthetic and plant-based compounds in therapeutics.

scholarly journals Immunotherapeutic Strategies for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 909-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beka Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Passive Immunization ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Disease Treatment ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Naturally Occurring Antibodies

Naturally occurring antibodies against amyloid-β peptides have been found in human cerebrospinal fluid and in the plasma of healthy individuals, but were significantly lower in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, suggesting that AD may be an immunodeficient disorder. The performance of anti-amyloid-β antibodies in transgenic mice models of AD showed that they are delivered to the central nervous system, preventing and dissolving amyloid-β plaques. Moreover, these antibodies protected the mice from learning and age-related memory deficits. Active and/or passive immunization against the amyloid-β peptide has been proposed as a method for preventing and/or treating AD. Immunotherapy represents fascinating ways to test the amyloid hypothesis and offers genuine opportunities for AD treatment, but requires careful antigen and antibody selection to maximize efficacy and minimize adverse events.

Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics: A Dampened Microglial Response?

2021 ◽  
pp. 107385842110245
Author(s):  
Zena K. Chatila ◽  
Elizabeth M. Bradshaw
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Innate Immune Cells ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Microglial Phenotype ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Microglial Response

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating age-related neurodegenerative condition. Unbiased genetic studies have implicated a central role for microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the central nervous system, in AD pathogenesis. On-going efforts are clarifying the biology underlying these associations and the microglial pathways that are dysfunctional in AD. Several genetic risk factors converge to decrease the function of activating microglial receptors and increase the function of inhibitory receptors, resulting in a seemingly dampened microglial phenotype in AD. Moreover, many of these microglial proteins that are genetically associated with AD appear to interact and share pathways or regulatory mechanisms, presenting several points of convergence that may be strategic targets for therapeutic intervention. Here, we review some of these studies and their implications for microglial participation in AD pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Large Artery Stiffness and Brain Health: Insights from Animal Models

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas R Winder ◽  
Emily H Reeve ◽  
Ashley E Walker
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Brain Aging ◽  
Large Artery ◽  
Neurocognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Disease Etiology ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Artery Stiffness ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

There are no effective treatments available to halt or reverse the progression of age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the underlying mechanisms of disease etiology and progression in order to identify novel therapeutic targets. Age-related changes to vasculature, particularly increases in stiffness of the large elastic arteries, are now recognized as important contributors to brain aging. There is a growing body of evidence for an association between greater large artery stiffness and cognitive impairment among both healthy older adults and patients with Alzheimer's disease. However, studies in humans are limited to only correlative evidence while animal models allow researchers to explore the causative mechanisms linking arterial stiffness to neurocognitive dysfunction and disease. Recently, several rodent models of direct modulation of large artery stiffness and the consequent effects on the brain have been reported. Common outcomes among these models have emerged, including evidence that greater large artery stiffness causes cerebrovascular dysfunction associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling. The purpose of this mini review is to highlight recent findings associating large artery stiffness with deleterious brain outcomes, with a specific focus on causative evidence obtained from animal models. We will also discuss the gaps in knowledge that remain in our understanding of how large artery stiffness affects brain function and disease outcomes.

scholarly journals Age-related epigenetic changes in hippocampal subregions of four animal models of Alzheimer's disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Lardenoije ◽  
Daniël L.A. van den Hove ◽  
Monique Havermans ◽  
Anne van Casteren ◽  
Kevin X. Le ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Epigenetic Changes ◽  
Age Related

scholarly journals The Effects of SIRT1 on Alzheimer's Disease Models

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizem Donmez
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Disease Models ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related

Sirtuins are highly conserved NAD+-dependent enzymes that were shown to have beneficial effects against age-related diseases. Aging is the major risk factor for all neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Sirtuins have been widely studied in the context of AD using different mouse models. In most of these studies, overexpression of SIRT1 has been shown to have protective effects against AD. Therefore, designing therapeutics based on increasing SIRT1 activity might be important for investigating the ways of treatment for this disease. This paper summarizes the recent research on the effect of SIRT1 in AD animal models and also the potential of SIRT1 being a therapeutical target for AD.

Paired helical filaments (PHF) in rats: An experimental animal model for Alzheimer's disease

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 842-843
Author(s):  
V.J.A. Montpetit ◽  
S. Dancea ◽  
S.W. French ◽  
D.F. Clapin
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Model ◽  
Paired Helical Filaments ◽  
Ethanol Intoxication ◽  
Drg Neurons ◽  
Critical Difference ◽  
Suitable Animal Model ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Chronic Ethanol Intoxication

A continuing problem in Alzheimer research is the lack of a suitable animal model for the disease. The absence of neurofibrillary tangles of paired helical filaments is the most critical difference in the processes by which the central nervous system ages in most species other than man. However, restricting consideration to single phenomena, one may identify animal models for specific aspects of Alzheimer's disease. Abnormal fibers resembling PHF have been observed in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons of rats in a study of chronic ethanol intoxication and spontaneously in aged rats. We present in this report evidence that PHF-like filaments occur in ethanol-treated rats of young age. In control animals lesions similar in some respects to our observations of cytoskeletal pathology in pyridoxine induced neurotoxicity were observed.Male Wistar BR rats (Charles River Labs) weighing 350 to 400 g, were implanted with a single gastrostomy cannula and infused with a liquid diet containing 30% of total calories as fat plus ethanol or isocaloric dextrose.

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