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Disease-Associated Microglia: A Universal Immune Sensor of Neurodegeneration
Deczkowska A, Keren-Shaul H, Weiner A, Colonna M, Schwartz M, Amit I.. Cell, 2018-05-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
A major challenge in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and brain aging is to identify the body's intrinsic mechanism that could sense the central nervous system (CNS) damage early and protect the brain from neurodegeneration. Accumulating evidence suggests that disease-associated microglia (DAM), a recently identified subset of CNS resident macrophages found at sites of neurodegeneration, might play such a protective role. Here, we propose that microglia are endowed with a dedicated sensory mechanism, which includes the Trem2 signaling pathway, to detect damage within the CNS in the form of neurodegeneration-associated molecular patterns (NAMPs).
Key findings
- Accumulating evidence suggests that disease-associated microglia (DAM), a recently identified subset of CNS resident macrophages found at sites of neurodegeneration, might play such a protective role.
- Here, we propose that microglia are endowed with a dedicated sensory mechanism, which includes the Trem2 signaling pathway, to detect damage within the CNS in the form of neurodegeneration-associated molecular patterns (NAMPs).
- Combining data from transcriptional analysis of DAM at single-cell level and from human genome-wide association studies (GWASs), we discuss potential function of different DAM pathways in the diseased brain and outline how manipulating DAM may create new therapeutic opportunities.
Why it matters
This paper proposes that microglia use a sensory mechanism, including the Trem2 signaling pathway, to detect damage in the brain. It is a proposal based on accumulating evidence, not a demonstrated treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 58/100
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 (Cell) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Cell: journal h-index 1,220 (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 | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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 | 7 / 7 | Cited 1,453 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 145.3 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 33.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 60 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 691 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Ido Amit: h-index 114 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29775591) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
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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
Deczkowska, A., Keren-Shaul, H., Weiner, A., Colonna, M., Schwartz, M., & Amit, I. (2018). Disease-Associated Microglia: A Universal Immune Sensor of Neurodegeneration. Cell. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.003
Vancouver
Deczkowska A, Keren-Shaul H, Weiner A, Colonna M, Schwartz M, Amit I. Disease-Associated Microglia: A Universal Immune Sensor of Neurodegeneration. Cell. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.003. PMID: 29775591.
BibTeX
@article{deczkowska2018-29775591,
author = {Deczkowska, A. and Keren-Shaul, H. and Weiner, A. and Colonna, M. and Schwartz, M. and Amit, I.},
title = {{Disease-Associated Microglia: A Universal Immune Sensor of Neurodegeneration}},
journal = {Cell},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.003},
pmid = {29775591},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.003}
}
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