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Immune Signaling in Neurodegeneration
Hammond TR, Marsh SE, Stevens B.. Immunity, 2019-04-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system progressively rob patients of their memory, motor function, and ability to perform daily tasks. Advances in genetics and animal models are beginning to unearth an unexpected role of the immune system in disease onset and pathogenesis; however, the role of cytokines, growth factors, and other immune signaling pathways in disease pathogenesis is still being examined. Here we review recent genetic risk and genome-wide association studies and emerging mechanisms for three key immune pathways implicated in disease, the growth factor TGF-β, the complement cascade, and the extracellular receptor TREM2.
Key findings
- Advances in genetics and animal models are beginning to unearth an unexpected role of the immune system in disease onset and pathogenesis; however, the role of cytokines, growth factors, and other immune signaling pathways in disease pathogenesis is still being examined.
- Here we review recent genetic risk and genome-wide association studies and emerging mechanisms for three key immune pathways implicated in disease, the growth factor TGF-β, the complement cascade, and the extracellular receptor TREM2.
- These immune signaling pathways are important under both healthy and neurodegenerative conditions, and recent work has highlighted new functional aspects of their signaling.
- Finally, we assess future directions for immune-related research in neurodegeneration and potential avenues for immune-related therapies.
Why it matters
This is a review of immune signaling pathways, including TREM2, in neurodegeneration. It reports no new treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 54/100
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 (Immunity) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Immunity: journal h-index 567 (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 | 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 338 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 37.6 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 13 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 121 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Beth A. Stevens: h-index 78 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30995509) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 54 / 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
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APA 7th
Hammond, T. R., Marsh, S. E., & Stevens, B. (2019). Immune Signaling in Neurodegeneration. Immunity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2019.03.016
Vancouver
Hammond TR, Marsh SE, Stevens B. Immune Signaling in Neurodegeneration. Immunity. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2019.03.016. PMID: 30995509.
BibTeX
@article{hammond2019-30995509,
author = {Hammond, T. R. and Marsh, S. E. and Stevens, B.},
title = {{Immune Signaling in Neurodegeneration}},
journal = {Immunity},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1016/j.immuni.2019.03.016},
pmid = {30995509},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2019.03.016}
}
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