Cerebral Innate Immunity: A New Conceptual Framework for Alzheimer's Disease

David Gate*, Terrence Town

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically defined by the presence of extracellular amyloid plaques comprised of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, formation of neurofibrillary tangles, and low-level, chronic neuroinflammation. These pathological hallmarks are posited to work in a concerted manner according to the "amyloid cascade hypothesis," which purports that Aβ deposition as "senile" amyloid plaques is the principal etiopathological event in AD. Despite local recruitment of brain microglia to sites of Aβ deposition, the brain's innate immune system ultimately fails at restricting Aβ plaque formation. It is becoming increasingly clear that inhibitory mechanisms exist to restrict amyloid clearance by both brain-resident and peripheral monocytes, and that innate immune genes can be targeted to reduce AD-like pathology in rodent models of cerebral amyloidosis. This chapter explores the preclinical science behind the expanding field of Aβ immunotherapy and the potential for a new generation of pharmacotherapeutics that promote a beneficial innate immune response in the AD brain.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationGenes, Environment and Alzheimer's Disease
PublisherElsevier Inc
Pages361-386
Number of pages26
ISBN (Print)9780128028513
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Amyloid
  • Immunotherapy
  • Innate immunity
  • Macrophage
  • Microglia
  • Phagocytosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine(all)
  • Neuroscience(all)

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