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Microglia in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanism and potential therapeutic targets
Gao C, Jiang J, Tan Y, Chen S.. Signal transduction and targeted therapy, 2023-09-22
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Microglia activation is observed in various neurodegenerative diseases. Recent advances in single-cell technologies have revealed that these reactive microglia were with high spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Some identified microglia in specific states correlate with pathological hallmarks and are associated with specific functions. Microglia both exert protective function by phagocytosing and clearing pathological protein aggregates and play detrimental roles due to excessive uptake of protein aggregates, which would lead to microglial phagocytic ability impairment, neuroinflammation, and eventually neurodegeneration. In addition, peripheral immune cells infiltration shapes microglia into a pro-inflammatory phenotype and accelerates disease progression. Microglia also act as a mobile vehicle to propagate protein aggregates. Extracellular vesicles released from microglia and autophagy impairment in microglia all contribute to pathological progression and neurodegeneration. Thus, enhancing microglial phagocytosis, reducing microglial-mediated neuroinflammation, inhibiting microglial exosome synthesis and secretion, and promoting microglial conversion into a protective phenotype are considered to be promising strategies for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. Here we comprehensively review the biology of microglia and the roles of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, dementia with Lewy bodies and Huntington's disease. We also summarize the possible microglia-targeted interventions and treatments against neurodegenerative diseases with preclinical and clinical evidence in cell experiments, animal studies, and clinical trials.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Gao, C., Jiang, J., Tan, Y., & Chen, S. (2023). Microglia in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanism and potential therapeutic targets. Signal transduction and targeted therapy. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-023-01588-0
Vancouver
Gao C, Jiang J, Tan Y, Chen S. Microglia in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanism and potential therapeutic targets. Signal transduction and targeted therapy. 2023. doi:10.1038/s41392-023-01588-0. PMID: 37735487.
BibTeX
@article{gao2023-37735487,
author = {Gao, C. and Jiang, J. and Tan, Y. and Chen, S.},
title = {{Microglia in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanism and potential therapeutic targets}},
journal = {Signal transduction and targeted therapy},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.1038/s41392-023-01588-0},
pmid = {37735487},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-023-01588-0}
}
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.
Key findings
- Recent advances in single-cell technologies have revealed that these reactive microglia were with high spatial and temporal heterogeneity.
- Some identified microglia in specific states correlate with pathological hallmarks and are associated with specific functions.
Why it matters
This review describes how microglia can both clear pathological protein aggregates and, when impaired, contribute to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, and suggests strategies such as enhancing microglial phagocytosis or reducing microglial-mediated neuroinflammation. These are proposed approaches, not proven treatments, cures or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 58/100
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 (Signal transduction and targeted therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy: journal h-index 289 (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 | 3 / 5 | 2023 — within 6 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 1,574 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 314.8 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 131.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 27 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 1,565 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Shengdi Chen: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University: institution h-index 975 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 37735487) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01588-0
- PubMed: 37735487
- Original source →
- Free full text: Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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