Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia defined by two key pathological characteristics in the brain, amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. Microglia, the primary innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), provide neuroprotection through Aβ and tau clearance but may also be neurotoxic by promoting neuroinflammation to exacerbate Aβ and tau pathogenesis in AD. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of microglial utilization of nutrients and trace metals in controlling their activation and effector functions. Trace metals, such as zinc, have essential roles in brain health and immunity, and zinc dyshomeostasis has been implicated in AD pathogenesis. As a result of these advances, the mechanisms by which zinc homeostasis influences microglial-mediated neuroinflammation in AD is a topic of continuing interest since new strategies to treat AD are needed. Here, we review the roles of zinc in AD, including zinc activation of microglia, the associated neuroinflammatory response, and the application of these findings in new therapeutic strategies.

中文翻译：

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阿尔茨海默病中小胶质细胞对锌的利用


阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 是最常见的痴呆症，由大脑中的两个关键病理特征定义：β 淀粉样蛋白 (Aβ) 斑块和由过度磷酸化 tau 蛋白组成的神经原纤维缠结 (NFT)。小胶质细胞是中枢神经系统 (CNS) 的主要先天免疫细胞，通过 Aβ 和 tau 清除提供神经保护，但也可能通过促进神经炎症来加剧 AD 中的 Aβ 和 tau 发病机制而具有神经毒性。最近的研究证明了小胶质细胞利用营养物和微量金属在控制其激活和效应功能方面的重要性。锌等微量金属对大脑健康和免疫具有重要作用，而锌的体内平衡失调与 AD 发病机制有关。由于这些进展，锌稳态影响 AD 中小胶质细胞介导的神经炎症的机制成为人们持续关注的话题，因为需要新的治疗 AD 的策略。在这里，我们回顾了锌在 AD 中的作用，包括锌对小胶质细胞的激活、相关的神经炎症反应，以及这些发现在新的治疗策略中的应用。