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Senile plaques stimulate microglia to release a neurotoxin found in Alzheimer brain
Giulian D, Haverkamp LJ, Li J, Karshin WL, Yu J, Tom D, Li X, Kirkpatrick JB.. Neurochemistry international, 1995-07-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Senile plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are surrounded by clusters of reactive microglia. Isolated human microglia placed in contact with plaques in vitro are activated to release a factor which is toxic to neurons. This same neurotoxin is found in AD brain tissue and causes damage to pyramidal neurons in vivo when infused into rat hippocampus.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Giulian, D., Haverkamp, L. J., Li, J., Karshin, W. L., Yu, J., Tom, D., et al. (1995). Senile plaques stimulate microglia to release a neurotoxin found in Alzheimer brain. Neurochemistry international. https://doi.org/10.1016/0197-0186(95)00067-i
Vancouver
Giulian D, Haverkamp LJ, Li J, Karshin WL, Yu J, Tom D, et al. Senile plaques stimulate microglia to release a neurotoxin found in Alzheimer brain. Neurochemistry international. 1995. doi:10.1016/0197-0186(95)00067-i. PMID: 7655344.
BibTeX
@article{giulian1995-7655344,
author = {Giulian, D. and Haverkamp, L. J. and Li, J. and Karshin, W. L. and Yu, J. and Tom, D. and Li, X. and Kirkpatrick, J. B.},
title = {{Senile plaques stimulate microglia to release a neurotoxin found in Alzheimer brain}},
journal = {Neurochemistry international},
year = {1995},
doi = {10.1016/0197-0186(95)00067-i},
pmid = {7655344},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/0197-0186(95)00067-i}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Isolated human microglia placed in contact with plaques in vitro are activated to release a factor which is toxic to neurons.
- This same neurotoxin is found in AD brain tissue and causes damage to pyramidal neurons in vivo when infused into rat hippocampus.
- Highest concentrations of the neurotoxin are in those brain structures most burdened by reactive microglia, suggesting that plaque-activated cells contribute to the neuronal damage and impaired cognition seen in patients with Alzheimer's dementia.
Why it matters
This laboratory study found that isolated human microglia in contact with senile plaques released a neurotoxin also found in Alzheimer's brain tissue, and that infusing it into rat hippocampus damaged neurons. It is early experimental work and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease in people.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
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 (Neurochemistry international) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Neurochemistry International: journal h-index 170 (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 | 1995 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 244 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.4 citations a year over 33 year(s) since 1995 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 16 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Joel B. Kirkpatrick: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Baylor College of Medicine: institution h-index 1,607 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 7655344) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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