Home › Research › TREM2 and immune genetics
Human Interleukin-34 facilitates microglia-like cell differentiation and persistent HIV-1 infection in humanized mice
Mathews S, Branch Woods A, Katano I, Makarov E, Thomas MB, Gendelman HE, Poluektova LY, Ito M et al.. Molecular neurodegeneration, 2019-03-05
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background Microglia are the principal innate immune defense cells of the centeral nervous system (CNS) and the target of the human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1). A complete understanding of human microglial biology and function requires the cell's presence in a brain microenvironment. Lack of relevant animal models thus far has also precluded studies of HIV-1 infection.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Mathews, S., Branch Woods, A., Katano, I., Makarov, E., Thomas, M. B., Gendelman, H. E., et al. (2019). Human Interleukin-34 facilitates microglia-like cell differentiation and persistent HIV-1 infection in humanized mice. Molecular neurodegeneration. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-019-0311-y
Vancouver
Mathews S, Branch Woods A, Katano I, Makarov E, Thomas MB, Gendelman HE, et al. Human Interleukin-34 facilitates microglia-like cell differentiation and persistent HIV-1 infection in humanized mice. Molecular neurodegeneration. 2019. doi:10.1186/s13024-019-0311-y. PMID: 30832693.
BibTeX
@article{mathews2019-30832693,
author = {Mathews, S. and Branch Woods, A. and Katano, I. and Makarov, E. and Thomas, M. B. and Gendelman, H. E. and Poluektova, L. Y. and Ito, M. and others},
title = {{Human Interleukin-34 facilitates microglia-like cell differentiation and persistent HIV-1 infection in humanized mice}},
journal = {Molecular neurodegeneration},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1186/s13024-019-0311-y},
pmid = {30832693},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-019-0311-y}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- A complete understanding of human microglial biology and function requires the cell's presence in a brain microenvironment.
- Lack of relevant animal models thus far has also precluded studies of HIV-1 infection.
- Productive viral infection in brain occurs only in human myeloid linage microglia and perivascular macrophages and requires cells present throughout the brain.
- Once infected, however, microglia become immune competent serving as sources of cellular neurotoxic factors leading to disrupted brain homeostasis and neurodegeneration.
Why it matters
This study used humanized mice to show that Interleukin-34 supports microglia-like cell differentiation and persistent HIV-1 infection in the brain. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Molecular neurodegeneration) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Molecular Neurodegeneration: journal h-index 164 (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 | 2019 — 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 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “mice”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 78 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.7 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 27 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Santhi Gorantla: h-index 42 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Nebraska Medical Center: institution h-index 666 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30832693) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13024-019-0311-y
- PubMed: 30832693
- Original source →
- Free full text: Molecular Neurodegeneration →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Related studies in TREM2 and immune genetics
Also tagged “tdp-43”
1,150 studies in the library carry the topic tag “tdp-43”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,150 tagged studies.