Peripheral Immune Cells Influence Beta-Amyloid Clearance in Alzheimer's

For years, experts have been assuming that immune cells do not play a role in Alzheimer's disease, but a recent breakthrough proves it to be wrong.

Researchers from the University of California have conducted a study on mice to determine the role of immune cells in Alzheimer's. They genetically modified a group of mice to lack T cells, B cells and NK cells.

‘Peripheral immune cells associate with the microglia of the brain to help get rid of Alzheimer's beta-amyloid plaque.’

The main reason behind the development of Alzheimer's is beta-amyloid proteins that form plaques on the brain cells. Therefore, researchers examined whether these immune cells played any role in eliminating the plaque formations.

T cells, B cells and NK cells are peripheral immune cells while microglia is the immune cells in the brain, which have an effect on the beta-amyloid proteins.

So, after a period of six months, researchers found a two-fold increase in beta-amyloid protein accumulation in mice devoid of peripheral immune cells. Therefore, researchers again transplanted bone marrow cells into these mice, as the T cells, B cells and NK cells develop from the bone marrow cells.

After a period, they found that the beta-amyloid accumulation reduced in the mice, showing the link between the peripheral immune cells and microglia. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers concluded that reconstitution of the missing cells allowed the B-cells to produce antibodies that reached the brain and helped the microglia eradicate the beta-amyloid.

Source: Medindia