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Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Stem Cell-Microglia Interaction in Brain Homeostasis

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Abstract

Microglia as resident cells of the brain can regulate neural development and maintenance of neuronal networks. Any types of pathologic events or changes in brain homeostasis are involved in the activation of microglia. This activation depends on the context, type of the stressor, or pathology. Due to the release of a plethora of substances such as chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors, microglia able to influence the pathologic outcome. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) condition, the deposition of amyloid‐β (Aβ) result in provokes the phenotypic activation of microglia and their elaboration of pro-inflammatory molecules. New investigations reveal that cellular therapy with stem cells might have therapeutic effects in preventing the pathogenesis of AD. Although many strategies have focused on the use of stem cells to regenerate damaged neurons, new researches have demonstrated the immune-regulatory feature of stem cells which can modulate the activity state of microglia as well as mediates neuroinflammation. Hence, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the brain homeostasis by the protective features of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could lead to remedial treatment for AD.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran; and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

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  1. Department of Physiology and Neurophysiology Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Saeid Bagheri-Mohammadi

  2. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Saeid Bagheri-Mohammadi

  3. Departments of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Saeid Bagheri-Mohammadi

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Bagheri-Mohammadi, S. Microglia in Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Stem Cell-Microglia Interaction in Brain Homeostasis. Neurochem Res 46, 141–148 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-020-03162-4

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