Targeting microglia for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

TitleTargeting microglia for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsWes PD, Sayed FA, Bard F, Gan L
JournalGlia
Volume64
Issue10
Pagination1710-32
Date Published2016 10
ISSN1098-1136
KeywordsAlzheimer Disease, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Animals, Antibodies, Humans, Immunotherapy, Microglia, Receptors, Fc, tau Proteins
Abstract

While histological changes in microglia have long been recognized as a pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), recent genetic association studies have also strongly implicated microglia in the etiology of the disease. Coding and noncoding polymorphisms in several genes expressed in microglia-including APOE, TREM2, CD33, GRN, and IL1RAP-alter AD risk, and therefore could be considered as entry points for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, microglia may have a substantial effect on current amyloid β (Aβ) and tau immunotherapy approaches, since they are the primary cell type in the brain to mediate Fc receptor-facilitated antibody effector function. In this review, we discuss the considerations in selecting microglial therapeutic targets from the perspective of drug discovery feasibility, and consider the role of microglia in ongoing immunotherapy clinical strategies. GLIA 2016;64:1710-1732.

DOI10.1002/glia.22988
Alternate JournalGlia
PubMed ID27100611