Soluble phospho-tau from Alzheimer's disease hippocampus drives microglial degeneration.

ABSTRACT: The role of microglial cells in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrated the existence of a weak microglial response in human AD hippocampus which is in contrast to the massive microglial activation observed in APP-based models. Most importantly, microglial cells displayed a prominent degenerative profile (dentate gyrus > CA3 > CA1 > parahippocampal gyrus), including fragmented and dystrophic processes with spheroids, a reduced numerical density, and a significant decrease in the area of surveillance ("microglial domain"). Consequently, there was a substantial decline in the area covered by microglia which may compromise immune protection and, therefore, neuronal survival. In vitro experiments demonstrated that soluble fract

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Mejias E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5106501 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature