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Microglial Plasticity in Vascular Dementia: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Reprogramming
Manish Shukla, Jarvis Li, Yan Sun, Rong Jin, Guohong Li. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026-04-22
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Vascular dementia (VaD) is a leading cause of cognitive decline and arises from heterogeneous cerebrovascular pathologies, most commonly cerebral small vessel disease and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, exert a dual, stage-dependent influence during VaD progression, initially supporting neuroprotection through debris clearance and tissue repair, but later contributing to chronic neuroinflammation, synaptic loss, and white matter injury. Emerging evidence suggests that multiple molecular pathways, including purinergic receptors, Toll-like receptors and inflammasome cascades, complement-mediated synaptic pruning, and homeostatic and metabolic regulators, such as TREM2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) and CSF1R (colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor), govern microglial functional transitions. Furthermore, post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs (e.g., miR-30 family, miR-124, miR-146a, and miR-155) modulates these phenotypes, offering potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Understanding these interconnected molecular and epigenetic networks provides a framework for reprogramming microglia from pro-inflammatory to reparative states, thereby providing a mechanistic basis for precision interventions to preserve neurovascular integrity and mitigate cognitive impairment in VaD.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Shukla, M., Li, J., Sun, Y., Jin, R., & Li, G. (2026). Microglial Plasticity in Vascular Dementia: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Reprogramming. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093719
Vancouver
Shukla M, Li J, Sun Y, Jin R, Li G. Microglial Plasticity in Vascular Dementia: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Reprogramming. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026. doi:10.3390/ijms27093719. PMID: 42123310.
BibTeX
@article{shukla2026-42123310,
author = {Shukla, Manish and Li, Jarvis and Sun, Yan and Jin, Rong and Li, Guohong},
title = {{Microglial Plasticity in Vascular Dementia: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Reprogramming}},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.3390/ijms27093719},
pmid = {42123310},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093719}
}
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
- Emerging evidence suggests that multiple molecular pathways, including purinergic receptors, Toll-like receptors and inflammasome cascades, complement-mediated synaptic pruning, and homeostatic and metabolic regulators, such as TREM2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) and CSF1R (colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor), govern microglial functional transitions.
Why it matters
This review describes how microglia have dual, stage-dependent effects in vascular dementia and how molecular pathways and microRNAs might be targeted to shift microglia from pro-inflammatory to reparative states. It is a review of mechanisms and proposed targets, not a tested treatment, cure or prevention.
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 randomized / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 37 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 39 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International Journal of Molecular Sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | International Journal of Molecular Sciences: journal h-index 426 (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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.1× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Guohong Li holds only 2 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Pennsylvania State University: institution h-index 1,397 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42123310) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 37 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 37 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 39 out of 100. |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms27093719
- PubMed: 42123310
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Molecular Sciences →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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