Formation and maintenance of Alzheimer's disease beta-amyloid plaques in the absence of microglia

Nat Neurosci. 2009 Nov;12(11):1361-3. doi: 10.1038/nn.2432. Epub 2009 Oct 18.

Abstract

In Alzheimer's disease, microglia cluster around beta-amyloid deposits, suggesting that these cells are important for amyloid plaque formation, maintenance and/or clearance. We crossed two distinct APP transgenic mouse strains with CD11b-HSVTK mice, in which nearly complete ablation of microglia was achieved for up to 4 weeks after ganciclovir application. Neither amyloid plaque formation and maintenance nor amyloid-associated neuritic dystrophy depended on the presence of microglia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / metabolism
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • CD11b Antigen / genetics*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Ganciclovir / adverse effects
  • Ganciclovir / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intra-Articular / methods
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microglia / drug effects
  • Microglia / physiology*
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron / methods
  • Mutation
  • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / etiology
  • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / metabolism
  • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / pathology
  • Plague / pathology*
  • Presenilin-1 / genetics
  • Thymidine Kinase / genetics

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • Antiviral Agents
  • CD11b Antigen
  • CD68 antigen, human
  • Presenilin-1
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Thymidine Kinase
  • Ganciclovir