PLoS Biology· 2025Q1
Disease-associated microglia in neurodegenerative diseases: Friend or foe?
- 47citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2025year
Short summary
Disease-associated microglia (DAM), a conserved cell state identified by single-cell transcriptomics, are upregulated in aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS, characterized by altered gene expression related to lipid metabolism and phagocytosis.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Disease-associated microglia (DAM) are a conserved cell state identified via single-cell transcriptomics.
- DAM are characterized by downregulation of homeostatic genes and upregulation of lipid metabolism and phagocytosis genes.
- DAM are associated with aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mouse models.
- The essay discusses the dynamics, origins, and therapeutic potential of DAM in neurodegeneration.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics have led to the identification of disease-associated microglia (DAM) as a distinct, conserved microglia state associated with mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and with aging. DAM are characterized by downregulation of homeostatic genes and upregulation of lipid metabolism and phagocytosis genes, including key risk factors for AD in humans. Although characterized in models of AD, whether DAM acts as universal sensor across all neurodegenerative diseases remains unknown. This Essay discusses the dynamics, origins, and therapeutic potential of DAM in neurodegeneration, alongside evidence supporting a protective role for them in regulating disease processes.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. PLoS Biology, 2025 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Neurology (Neuroscience)
NeurologyNeuroscience