Home › Research › TREM2 and immune genetics
Microglia and brain macrophages: An update
Sasaki A.. Neuropathology : official journal of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology, 2016-11-18
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Current immunohistochemical techniques have made the identification of microglia possible in routinely processed tissue sections from human brains. Previous studies have indicated that almost no neurological diseases exist without microglial activation. Activated microglia often secrete inflammatory cytokines in various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, but microglial activation is not always associated with inflammation.
Key findings
- Previous studies have indicated that almost no neurological diseases exist without microglial activation.
- Activated microglia often secrete inflammatory cytokines in various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, but microglial activation is not always associated with inflammation.
- The equation microglial activation means "neuroinflammation" is absurd and misleading.
- Neuropathologists are in the best position to provide clarity to end the existing confusion.
Why it matters
This review discusses microglia and brain macrophages and argues that microglial activation is not always the same as neuroinflammation. It offers no treatment or prevention findings for Alzheimer's disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
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 (Neuropathology : official journal of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Neuropathology: journal h-index 83 (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 | 2017 — 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 | 4 / 7 | Cited 92 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.4 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Atsushi Sasaki: h-index 53 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Saitama Medical University: institution h-index 310 (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 27859676) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
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
Sasaki, A. (2017). Microglia and brain macrophages: An update. Neuropathology : official journal of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology. https://doi.org/10.1111/neup.12354
Vancouver
Sasaki A. Microglia and brain macrophages: An update. Neuropathology : official journal of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology. 2017. doi:10.1111/neup.12354. PMID: 27859676.
BibTeX
@article{sasaki2017-27859676,
author = {Sasaki, A.},
title = {{Microglia and brain macrophages: An update}},
journal = {Neuropathology : official journal of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1111/neup.12354},
pmid = {27859676},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/neup.12354}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
1 study in the alzhub library lists this one in its references.