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Expression of the histocompatibility glycoprotein HLA-DR in neurological disease
McGeer PL, Itagaki S, McGeer EG.. Acta neuropathologica, 1988-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Reactive microglia or macrophages expressing the histocompatibility glycoprotein HLA-DR were detected in many neurological diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Pick's and Huntington's diseases, parkinsonism-dementia of Guam, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Shy-Drager syndrome, multiple sclerosis and AIDS encephalopathy. Reactive astrocytes, also present in these conditions, were established as a population distinct from the HLA-DR positive microglia by double immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein and HLA-DR. A distinctive pattern of HLA-DR positive cells was seen in each disease entity.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
McGeer, P. L., Itagaki, S., & McGeer, E. G. (1988). Expression of the histocompatibility glycoprotein HLA-DR in neurological disease. Acta neuropathologica. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00689592
Vancouver
McGeer PL, Itagaki S, McGeer EG. Expression of the histocompatibility glycoprotein HLA-DR in neurological disease. Acta neuropathologica. 1988. doi:10.1007/bf00689592. PMID: 2974227.
BibTeX
@article{mcgeer1988-2974227,
author = {McGeer, P. L. and Itagaki, S. and McGeer, E. G.},
title = {{Expression of the histocompatibility glycoprotein HLA-DR in neurological disease}},
journal = {Acta neuropathologica},
year = {1988},
doi = {10.1007/bf00689592},
pmid = {2974227},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00689592}
}
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Key findings
- Reactive astrocytes, also present in these conditions, were established as a population distinct from the HLA-DR positive microglia by double immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein and HLA-DR.
- A distinctive pattern of HLA-DR positive cells was seen in each disease entity.
- Areas known to contain pathology always stained positively, and, in several cases, reactive microglia appeared in areas that would otherwise not have been suspected of being involved in the pathological process.
- HLA-DR staining, which outlines the surface membranes of positive cells, was so strong that lesioned areas could frequently be identified in sections with the naked eye.
Why it matters
This study detected reactive microglia or macrophages expressing HLA-DR in many neurological diseases including Alzheimer's, with a distinctive pattern in each disease. It reports no treatment, cure or prevention result.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
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 | 1988 — 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 420 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.5 citations a year over 40 year(s) since 1988 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 10 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 31 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Edith G. McGeer: h-index 103 (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 2974227) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
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