T-cells in Alzheimer's disease - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

T-cells in Alzheimer's disease

Terrence Town et al. Neuromolecular Med. 2005.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common dementing illness and is pathologically characterized by deposition of the 40-42 amino acid peptide, amyloid-beta (Abeta), as senile plaques. It is well documented that brain inflammatory mechanisms mediated by reactive glia are activated in response to Abeta plaques. A number of reports further suggest that T-cells are activated in AD patients, and that these cells exist both in the periphery and as infiltrates in the brain. We explore the potential role of T-cells in the AD process, a controversial area, by reviewing reports that show disturbed activation profiles and/or altered numbers of various subsets of T-cells in the circulation as well as in the AD brain parenchyma and in cerebral amyloid angiopathy. We also discuss the recent Abeta immunotherapy approach vis-à-vis the activated, autoaggressive T-cell infiltrates that contributed to aseptic meningoencephalitis in a small percentage of patients, and present possible alternative approaches that may be both efficacious and safe. Finally, we explore the use of mouse models of AD as a system within which to definitively test the possible contribution of T-cells to AD pathogenesis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Braz J Med Biol Res. 1998 Jan;31(1):55-60 - PubMed
    1. J Neuroimmunol. 2002 Mar;124(1-2):83-92 - PubMed
    1. Eur J Immunol. 2005 Apr;35(4):1076-85 - PubMed
    1. Neurobiol Aging. 2001 Sep-Oct;22(5):721-7 - PubMed
    1. Neuromolecular Med. 2003;3(1):29-39 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources