The inflammatory cascade in Alzheimer’s disease

The innate inflammation observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an endogenously mediated localized action, brought about as a response to tissue injury and the chronic presence of deposits of insoluble, fibrillar Aβ. The cellular mediators of inflammation in the AD brain are astrocytes, neurones and microglia. These cells are capable of activating a number of inflammatory mediators, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the complement pathway and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα). The inflammatory cascade in the AD has long been a therapeutic target for the treatment of AD, with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) being of particular interest.

Click the image to view high resolution version

References

J Alzheimers Dis 2001;3:131–157