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Role of complement in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation
Bonifati DM, Kishore U.. Molecular immunology, 2006-05-15
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The complement system provides an innate defence mechanism against pathogenic microorganisms. Although viewed for many years as an immune-privileged organ, the central nervous system contains many components of the immune system, including components of the complement system that are synthesized by astrocytes, microglia, and neurons. During the past two decades, a wide range of inflammatory markers, typically absent in the normal elderly population, have been reported in Alzheimer's disease brains.
Key findings
- Although viewed for many years as an immune-privileged organ, the central nervous system contains many components of the immune system, including components of the complement system that are synthesized by astrocytes, microglia, and neurons.
- During the past two decades, a wide range of inflammatory markers, typically absent in the normal elderly population, have been reported in Alzheimer's disease brains.
- It is becoming evident that sustained brain inflammation might be an essential cofactor in Alzheimer disease and other neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Huntington's and prion diseases.
- The complement system may be useful in eliminating aggregated and toxic proteins associated with these neurological disorders and thus have a protective effect.
Why it matters
This review describes complement system components in the brain and reports that inflammatory markers are found in Alzheimer's disease brains, suggesting sustained brain inflammation may be a cofactor. It offers no treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
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 (Molecular immunology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Molecular Immunology: journal h-index 180 (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 | 2007 — 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 314 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.0 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 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 Uday Kishore: h-index 61 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Oxford: institution h-index 2,205 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16698083) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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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
Bonifati, D. M., & Kishore, U. (2007). Role of complement in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Molecular immunology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2006.03.007
Vancouver
Bonifati DM, Kishore U. Role of complement in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Molecular immunology. 2007. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2006.03.007. PMID: 16698083.
BibTeX
@article{bonifati2007-16698083,
author = {Bonifati, D. M. and Kishore, U.},
title = {{Role of complement in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation}},
journal = {Molecular immunology},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.1016/j.molimm.2006.03.007},
pmid = {16698083},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2006.03.007}
}
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