Systemic immune challenges trigger and drive Alzheimer-like neuropathology in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of age-related dementia, and its effect on society increases exponentially as the population ages. Accumulating evidence suggests that neuroinflammation, mediated by the brain's innate immune system, contributes to AD neuropathology and exacerbates the course of the disease. However, there is no experimental evidence for a causal link between systemic inflammation or neuroinflammation and the onset of the disease.

Methods

The viral mimic, polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid (PolyI:C) was used to stimulate the immune system of experimental animals. Wild-type (WT) and transgenic mice were exposed to this cytokine inducer prenatally (gestation day (GD)17) and/or in adulthood. Behavioral, immunological, immunohis

SUBMITTER: Krstic D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3483167 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature