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Brain microglia constitutively express beta-2 integrins
Akiyama H, McGeer PL.. Journal of neuroimmunology, 1990-11-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Localization of beta-2 integrins in normal and Alzheimer disease temporal cortex was studied immunohistochemically. Resting microglia were found to express constitutively CD11a (LFA-1), CD11b (Mac-1, CR3), CD11c (P150, 95; CR4), and CD18 (beta-2). They were also found to express constitutively leukocyte common antigen and the immunoglobulin receptor Fc gamma RI.
Key findings
- Resting microglia were found to express constitutively CD11a (LFA-1), CD11b (Mac-1, CR3), CD11c (P150, 95; CR4), and CD18 (beta-2).
- They were also found to express constitutively leukocyte common antigen and the immunoglobulin receptor Fc gamma RI.
- The intensity of expression of each of these antigens was enhanced on reactive microglia in Alzheimer disease tissue.
- HLA-DR was detected on only a few microglia in control tissue, but was intensely expressed on large numbers of reactive microglia in Alzheimer tissue.
Why it matters
Microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, were found to carry immune-cell surface markers (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD18, leukocyte common antigen and Fc gamma RI) even in normal temporal cortex, and these markers stained more intensely on reactive microglia in Alzheimer's tissue. HLA-DR, seen "on only a few microglia in control tissue", was "intensely expressed on large numbers of reactive microglia in Alzheimer tissue." This is a tissue-staining study that shows an association, not a cause, and it reports no treatment, cure or prevention result.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neuroimmunology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neuroimmunology: journal h-index 192 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1990 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 430 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.3 citations a year over 38 year(s) since 1990 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 9 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 17 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Patrick L. McGeer: h-index 119 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of British Columbia: institution h-index 1,424 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 1977769) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Akiyama, H., & McGeer, P. L. (1990). Brain microglia constitutively express beta-2 integrins. Journal of neuroimmunology. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-5728(90)90055-r
Vancouver
Akiyama H, McGeer PL. Brain microglia constitutively express beta-2 integrins. Journal of neuroimmunology. 1990. doi:10.1016/0165-5728(90)90055-r. PMID: 1977769.
BibTeX
@article{akiyama1990-1977769,
author = {Akiyama, H. and McGeer, P. L.},
title = {{Brain microglia constitutively express beta-2 integrins}},
journal = {Journal of neuroimmunology},
year = {1990},
doi = {10.1016/0165-5728(90)90055-r},
pmid = {1977769},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-5728(90)90055-r}
}
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