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Enlarged and phagocytic, but not primed, interleukin-1 alpha-immunoreactive microglia increase with age in normal human brain
Sheng JG, Mrak RE, Griffin WS.. Acta neuropathologica, 1998-03-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Microglia-mediated inflammatory responses have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neuritic plaques in Alzheimer's disease. The strong age association of Alzheimer's disease incidence suggests that events in normal aging may promote such responses. We used immunohistochemistry and computerized image analysis to determine the numbers, size, activation state, and immunoreactive intensity of interleukin-1 alpha-immunoreactive (IL-1 alpha +) microglia in mesial temporal lobe of 20 neurologically normal individuals, 2-80 years of age.
Key findings
- The strong age association of Alzheimer's disease incidence suggests that events in normal aging may promote such responses.
- We used immunohistochemistry and computerized image analysis to determine the numbers, size, activation state, and immunoreactive intensity of interleukin-1 alpha-immunoreactive (IL-1 alpha +) microglia in mesial temporal lobe of 20 neurologically normal individuals, 2-80 years of age.
- We also used Northern analysis to determine tissue levels of IL-1 alpha mRNA in an additional 11 neurologically normal individuals aged 1 day to 78 years.
- IL-1 alpha + microglia were characterized as primed, enlarged, or phagocytic (enlarged with heterogeneous cytoplasmic contents) based on morphology.
Why it matters
This study examined interleukin-1 alpha-immunoreactive microglia in the brains of 20 neurologically normal people aged 2 to 80 and found that enlarged, phagocytic microglia increase with age. It suggests that normal aging events may promote inflammatory responses relevant to Alzheimer's disease, but it did not test any treatment or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a leading specialty 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 | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Acta neuropathologica) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Acta Neuropathologica: journal h-index 287 (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 | 1998 — 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 231 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.7 citations a year over 30 year(s) since 1998 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 11 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 10 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author W. Sue T. Griffin: h-index 66 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Veterans Health Administration: institution h-index 968 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9542587) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 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
Sheng, J. G., Mrak, R. E., & Griffin, W. S. (1998). Enlarged and phagocytic, but not primed, interleukin-1 alpha-immunoreactive microglia increase with age in normal human brain. Acta neuropathologica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004010050792
Vancouver
Sheng JG, Mrak RE, Griffin WS. Enlarged and phagocytic, but not primed, interleukin-1 alpha-immunoreactive microglia increase with age in normal human brain. Acta neuropathologica. 1998. doi:10.1007/s004010050792. PMID: 9542587.
BibTeX
@article{sheng1998-9542587,
author = {Sheng, J. G. and Mrak, R. E. and Griffin, W. S.},
title = {{Enlarged and phagocytic, but not primed, interleukin-1 alpha-immunoreactive microglia increase with age in normal human brain}},
journal = {Acta neuropathologica},
year = {1998},
doi = {10.1007/s004010050792},
pmid = {9542587},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s004010050792}
}
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