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Microglia in neurodegenerative disease
Perry VH, Nicoll JA, Holmes C.. Nature reviews. Neurology, 2010-03-16
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Microglia, the resident macrophages of the CNS, are exquisitely sensitive to brain injury and disease, altering their morphology and phenotype to adopt a so-called activated state in response to pathophysiological brain insults. Morphologically activated microglia, like other tissue macrophages, exist as many different phenotypes, depending on the nature of the tissue injury. Microglial responsiveness to injury suggests that these cells have the potential to act as diagnostic markers of disease onset or progression, and could contribute to the outcome of neurodegenerative diseases.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Perry, V. H., Nicoll, J. A., & Holmes, C. (2010). Microglia in neurodegenerative disease. Nature reviews. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2010.17
Vancouver
Perry VH, Nicoll JA, Holmes C. Microglia in neurodegenerative disease. Nature reviews. Neurology. 2010. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2010.17. PMID: 20234358.
BibTeX
@article{perry2010-20234358,
author = {Perry, V. H. and Nicoll, J. A. and Holmes, C.},
title = {{Microglia in neurodegenerative disease}},
journal = {Nature reviews. Neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1038/nrneurol.2010.17},
pmid = {20234358},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2010.17}
}
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Key findings
- Morphologically activated microglia, like other tissue macrophages, exist as many different phenotypes, depending on the nature of the tissue injury.
- Microglial responsiveness to injury suggests that these cells have the potential to act as diagnostic markers of disease onset or progression, and could contribute to the outcome of neurodegenerative diseases.
- The persistence of activated microglia long after acute injury and in chronic disease suggests that these cells have an innate immune memory of tissue injury and degeneration.
- Microglial phenotype is also modified by systemic infection or inflammation.
Why it matters
This review describes how microglia change their morphology and phenotype into activated states in response to brain injury and disease, and suggests they could serve as diagnostic markers or influence disease outcomes. It discusses microglial biology and does not report a treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
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 (Nature reviews. Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Nature Reviews Neurology: journal h-index 269 (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 | 2010 — within 20 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 | 7 / 7 | Cited 1,545 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 85.8 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 31 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 152 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Clive Holmes: h-index 79 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Southampton: institution h-index 938 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20234358) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
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