Initiative Overview
Microglia and astrocytes play a central role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Alzheimer's Disease & Tauopathies, and Parkinson's Disease. Through a combination of reviews of the latest scientific advances, as well as Biospective's original research studies, we seek to explore the current understanding of the associations between neuroinflammatory cells and neurodegeneration, as well as approaches for disease modification through therapeutic intervention.
APOE ε4, Microglia & Alzheimer’s Disease
An overview of how ApoE4 influences microglial activity in Alzheimer's disease and the development of targeted therapeutics.
Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β) and Neurodegenerative Diseases
The role of IL-1beta in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
What is an Inflammasome?
An overview of inflammasomes, including their mechanisms of action, roles in diseases, and targeting for drug development.
What is IL-1β (Interleukin-1 Beta)?
An overview of IL-1β, its proinflammatory role in systemic and neurological diseases, and therapeutic strategies involving IL-1β antagonism.
What is NLRP3?
An overview of NLRP3 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggers, disease associations, and therapeutic targeting strategies.
Impaired Microglia Autophagy in Neurodegenerative Diseases
How impaired microglial autophagy contributes to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Microglia-Neuron Interactions & Neurodegenerative Diseases
A concise review of the direct interactions between microglia & neurons, and how these cell-to-cell interactions may be affected in neurodegenerative diseases.
Microglia, Astrocytes & Tau in Neurodegenerative Diseases
How glial-driven neuroinflammation fuels tau aggregation, propagation, and neuronal loss in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies.
Microglia, Astrocytes & α-Synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease
How α-synuclein influences microglia and astrocytes in Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Microglia & Astrocytes
The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in microglia and astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS.
TNF-α & Microglia in Neurodegenerative Diseases
An overview of the function of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in microglia and its contribution to the progression of neurodegeneration.
Astrocyte Morphology in Alzheimer’s Disease
An overview of astrocyte morphological analysis and the applications to neurodegenerative disease research and drug discovery & development.
