Lipid Droplets in Microglia Involved in Alzheimer’s Pathology
Microglia, the innate immune cells in the central nervous system, play a crucial role in age-related neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Dysfunction of these cells contributes to the chronic inflammation seen in Alzheimer’s. Researchers are investigating excessive lipid accumulation in microglia as a potential cause of the disease.
Genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s involve lipid metabolism genes, which are highly expressed in glial cells. In Alzheimer’s brain tissue, a microglial state expressing the lipid enzyme ACSL1 is prevalent in patients with the APOE4/4 genotype. Fibrillar amyloid-β induces ACSL1 expression and lipid accumulation in microglia, leading to neurotoxicity. This link between genetic risk factors, lipid droplets in microglia, and neurotoxicity could offer new therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer’s.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07185-7
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